Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
04:00
Identifying Frailty Using Point-of-Care Ultrasonography: Image Acquisition and Assessment
Published on: July 26, 2024
Frailty in the critically ill: a novel concept
Robert C McDermid1, Henry T Stelfox, Sean M Bagshaw
1Division of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 3C1.12 Walter C Mackenzie Centre, 8440-112 ST NW, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2B7.
Critical Care (London, England)
|February 25, 2011
Summary
Frailty, a syndrome of declining reserve, may apply to critically ill patients, similar to older adults. Measuring frailty in intensive care units (ICUs) could predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Frailty is a syndrome of decreased reserve and increased vulnerability, linked to aging and comorbid conditions.
- The frail phenotype involves declines in mobility, muscle mass, nutrition, strength, and endurance.
- Critically ill patients may share similarities with frail geriatric patients, with potential implications for outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the concept of frailty in critically ill patients.
- To investigate the potential clinical relevance and predictive value of frailty in intensive care unit (ICU) settings.
- To highlight the need for studies on frailty's correlation with outcomes and resource utilization in critical care.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis comparing frailty in geriatric and critically ill populations.
- Review of trends in ICU resource utilization by older adults.
- Hypothesized need for objective frailty measurement in critical care.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of frailty in critically ill patients is unknown but likely increasing.
- Frailty may interact with illness severity, comorbidities, and socio-environmental factors.
- Objective frailty measurement could aid clinicians in end-of-life decision-making.
Conclusions:
- Frailty may be a relevant concept in critical care, analogous to its role in geriatrics.
- Further research is needed to validate frailty assessment and its impact on outcomes in critically ill patients.
- Frailty assessment could support clinical decisions regarding intensive care unit (ICU) support and life-sustaining therapies.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
The first step in nursing management of a patient with heart failure involves thoroughly assessing the patient's medical history.Subjective Data: Obtain the patient's medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and symptoms like dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.Objective Data: Conduct a physical examination to identify findings such as jugular vein distention, pulmonary crackles, tachycardia, murmurs, peripheral edema, and vital signs,...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:24Flail Chest-I
Overview of Flail Chest
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...