Preadmission frailty predicts adverse outcomes in geriatric trauma patients

Editor's Note

In this study, preadmission clinical frailty independently predicted adverse discharge destination (ie, death or discharge to a long-term, chronic or acute care facility) in geriatric trauma patients.

The analysis of 266 trauma patients 65 years and older using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the laboratory Frailty Index (FI-lab) found that preadmission frailty as per the CFS (CFS 6 or 7) was independently associated with adverse discharge destination. Severe frailty on admission as determined by the FI-lab was not associated with adverse outcomes.

The CFS may be used to triage resources to avoid adverse outcomes in geriatric trauma patients; whereas, the FI-lab may not be useful, the authors concluded.

The Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the laboratory Frailty Index (FI-lab) are validated tools based on clinical and laboratory data, respectively. Their utility as predictors of geriatric trauma outcomes is unknown. Our primary objective was to determine whether pre-admission CFS is associated with adverse discharge destination. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the relationships between CFS and in-hospital complications and between admission FI-lab and discharge destination.