FRAIL Scale: an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality among older adults

A. Tufan, T. Tolu, N. Senturk Durmus, C. Alkac, B. Can

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Marmara University Medical School, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey. aslitufan@yahoo.com

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• Geriatrics

OBJECTIVE: To screen for geriatric syndromes in older in-hospital patients and investigate their relationship with mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Demographic data, comorbidities, and medical history of the patients were recorded. Anthropometric measurements were obtained at 72 hours after hospital admission. The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form, strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls (SARC-F) sarcopenia screening questionnaire, Katz Activities of Daily Living scale, Lawton-Brody instrumental activities of daily living scale, the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss of weight (FRAIL) scale and the Eating Assessment Test-10 (EAT-10) screening test were used to assess geriatric syndromes. All patients were evaluated for delirium, pain, falls, polypharmacy, sleep disorders, incontinence, and pressure injury by the same researcher.

RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 75±7 years (range: 66-97). During hospital follow-up, 15.3% (n=13) of the patients died and 84.7% (n=72) were discharged. The median length of stay was 19 days (range: 3-126 days). In the multivariate analysis, frailty (hazard ratio: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.41-5.06, p=0.003) was found to be associated with in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality in older adults.

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