Revisiting the Barthel Index - A Common Language for Activities of Daily Living With Timeless Value in the Digital Era

BACKGROUND: In aging societies, shared tools are needed to assess and communicate activities of daily living (ADL). The Barthel Index (BI) is widely used in administrative data but remains underutilized in discharge planning. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 605 older cardiovascular patients discharged from a regional hospital, classifying functional levels by BI ambulation, total score, and 6-minute walk distance. Higher levels corresponded with greater ADL independence across BI items. CONCLUSIONS: The BI reflects structured functional tiers and serves as a common language in care coordination.