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- Title
Frailty and hospital outcomes within a low socioeconomic population.
- Authors
Clark, S; Shaw, C; Padayachee, A; Howard, S; Hay, K; Frakking, T T
- Abstract
Background Clinical frailty scales (CFS) predict hospital-related outcomes. Frailty is more common in areas of higher socioeconomic disadvantage, but no studies exclusively report on the impact of CFS on hospital-related outcomes in areas of known socioeconomic disadvantage. Aims To evaluate the association of the CFS with hospital-related outcomes. Design Retrospective observational study in a community hospital within a disadvantaged area in Australia (Social Economic Index for Areas = 0.1%). Methods The CFS was used in the emergency department (ED) for people aged ≥ 75 years. Frailty was defined as a score of ≥4. Associations between the CFS and mortality, admission rates, ED presentations and length of stay (LOS) were analysed using regression analyses. Results Between 11 July 2017 and 31 March 2018, there were 5151 ED presentations involving 3258 patients aged ≥ 75 years. Frail persons were significantly more likely to be older, represent to the ED and have delirium compared with non-frail persons. CFS was independently associated with 28-day mortality, with odds of mortality increasing by 1.5 times per unit increase in CFS (95% CI: 1.3–1.7). Frail persons with CFS 4–6 were more likely to be admitted (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0–1.5), have higher geometric mean LOS (1.43; 95% CI 1.15-1.77 days) and higher rates of ED presentations (IRR: 1.12; 95% CI 1.04–1.21) compared with non-frail persons. Conclusions The CFS predicts community hospital-related outcomes in frail persons within a socioeconomic disadvantage area. Future intervention and allocation of resources could consider focusing on CFS 4–6 as a priority for frail persons within a community hospital setting.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; RESOURCE allocation; HOSPITALS; LENGTH of stay in hospitals; FRAIL elderly; HOSPITAL emergency services
- Publication
QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 2019, Vol 112, Issue 12, p907
- ISSN
1460-2725
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/qjmed/hcz203