Risk stratification tool for older emergency department patients: the 6-items brief geriatric assessment

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Risk Assessment

Background:

• Older adults are a growing demographic in Emergency Departments (EDs).
• Effective outcome prediction tools are crucial for managing this population.
• The 6-item brief geriatric assessment (BGA) was explored as a rapid screening tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the 6-item BGA for identifying older ED patients at risk of adverse outcomes.
• To assess the association between BGA risk levels and key endpoints.

Main Methods:

• Observational prospective cohort study across 36 European EDs.
• Included patients aged 65+ presenting over seven days.
• The 6-item BGA classified patients into low, moderate, or high-risk groups.

Main Results:

• 4657 patients were analyzed (48% male, median age 77).
• Higher BGA risk correlated with increased ward admission (RR=1.22), longer hospital LOS (LOSR=1.31), and higher mortality (MR: RR=2.02; HR: RR=3.12).

Conclusions:

• Higher BGA risk levels are significantly associated with adverse outcomes in older ED patients.
• The 6-item BGA can support rapid risk stratification and complement ED triage.
• Further studies are recommended before routine implementation.