Frailty in patients over 65 years of age admitted to Intensive Care Units (FRAIL-ICU)

To estimate the prevalence of frailty in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and its impact upon ICU mortality at 1 and 6 months.

A prospective observational cohort study was carried out.

Spanish ICU.

None.

Patients≥65 years of age admitted to the ICU for>24hours. Variables were registered upon admission, and functional status was assessed by telephone calls 1 and 6 months after discharge from the ICU.

Age, gender, frailty (FRAIL scale), functional status (Barthel, Lawton, Clinical Dementia Rating and NUTRIC score), days of mechanical ventilation (MV), functional score (APACHE II and SOFA), ICU mortality, and mortality 1 and 6 months after ICU discharge.

A total of 132 patients were evaluated, of which 46 were frail (34.9%). Age of the frail versus non-frail patients: 78.8±7.2 and 78.6±6.4 years, respectively (P=.43); male gender: 43.8% versus 56.3% (P=.10); SOFA score: 4.7±2.9 versus 4.6±2.9 (P=.75); MV: 33.3% versus 66.7% (P=.75); days of MV: 5.6±15 versus 4.3±8.1 (P=.57); ICU mortality 13% versus 6% (P = .14), mortality at 1 month 24% versus 8% (P = .01), mortality 6 months 32% versus 15% (P = .03). Frailty is associated with mortality at one month (OR = 3.5, P <.05, 95% CI (1.22-10.03) and at 6 months after discharge from the ICU (OR = 2.62, P <.05, 95% CI (1.04-6.56).

Frailty was present in 35% of the patients admitted to the ICU, and was associated with mortality.