Abstract
Background
Frailty is a predictor of adverse outcomes in older subjects.
Aims
The aims of this study are to (1) measure the frailty status and its changes occurring during the hospital stay, (2) determine the relationships among frailty and adverse outcomes.
Methods
Frailty was assessed using a 46-item Frailty Index (FI) in 156 patients admitted to an Acute Geriatric Medicine Unit. The FI was calculated within 24 h from the hospital admission (aFI) and at his/her discharge (dFI). Patients were followed up to 12 months after the hospital discharge.
Results
A statistically significant difference was reported between the aFI (0.31, IQR 0.19–0.44) and the dFI (0.29, IQR 0.19–0.40; p = 0.04). The aFI was directly associated with the risk of in-hospital death (OR = 5.9; 95% CI 2.0–17.5; p = 0.001), 1 year mortality (OR = 5.5, 95% CI 2.4–12.7, p < 0.001) and re-hospitalization (OR = 6.3, 95% CI 2.2–17.9, p = 0.03).
Conclusion
Frailty is a strong predictor of negative endpoints in hospitalized older persons.
Discussion
Frailty assessment from routinely collected clinical data may provide important insights about the biological status of the individual and promote the personalization of care.
References
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Funding
This research did not receive any specific Grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Messina (prot. number 19/17). The study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
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For this type of study formal consent is not required.
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Basile, G., Catalano, A., Mandraffino, G. et al. Frailty modifications and prognostic impact in older patients admitted in acute care. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 151–155 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0989-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-0989-7