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Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Feasibility and validity of frailty measurement in geriatric rehabilitation
Aparna Arjunan1, Nancye M Peel1, Ruth E Hubbard1
1Centre for Research in Geriatric Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Objectives:
The measurement of frailty using a Frailty Index (FI) has been criticised as too time-consuming for use in hospital settings. We aimed to assess the feasibility and characteristics of an FI derived from routinely collected data.
Methods:
A total of 258 participants aged 65 and older were included in a single-centre prospective cohort study conducted in inpatient geriatric rehabilitation wards. The functional independence measure (FIM™), medication count and comorbidities were coded as deficits.
Results:
An FI could be derived in all participants. It was normally distributed with a mean (SD) of 0.42 (0.13) and reached a submaximal limit of 0.69. Adjusting for age and sex, the odds ratio of a poor outcome (death/discharge to higher care) was 1.38 (confidence interval 1.11-1.70) per unit (0.1) increase in FI.
Conclusion:
Derivation of an FI from routinely collected data is feasible in geriatric rehabilitation settings and is predictive of poor outcomes.
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