Research article summary (published 29 Jan 2008):

Development of an easy prognostic score for frailty outcomes in the aged.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: identification of frailty is recommended in geriatric practice. However, there is a lack of frailty scores combining easy-to-collect predictors from multiple domains. OBJECTIVE: to develop a frailty score including only self-reported information and easy-to-perform standardised measurements recommended in routine geriatric practice. DESIGN: prospective population-based study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: included 1,007 Italian subjects aged 65 and over. MEASUREMENTS: seventeen baseline possible mortality predictors from several domains, 4-year risk of mortality and other adverse health outcomes associated with frailty [fractures, hospitalisation, and new and worsening activities of daily living (ADL) disability]. METHODS: a multivariate Cox model was used to identify the best sub-group of independent predictors and to develop a mortality prognostic score, defined as the number of adverse predictors present. Logistic regression was used to verify whether the score also predicted risk of other frailty outcomes in the cohort survivors. RESULTS: nine independent mortality predictors were identified. Among subjects with score > or =3, each one point increase in the score was associated with a doubling in mortality risk and, among survivors, with an increased risk of all the other adverse health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: nine easy-to-collect predictors may identify aged people at increased risk of adverse health outcomes associated with frailty.

Author information

Author/s: Ravaglia, Giovanni (G); Forti, Paola (P); Lucicesare, Anna (A); Pisacane, Nicoletta (N); Rietti, Elisa (E); Patterson, Christopher (C);

Affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardioangiology and Hepatology, University of Bologna, Italy. ravaglia(-atsign-)med.unibo.it

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Age and ageing (Age Ageing), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Mar; vol 37 (issue 2) : pp 161-6

Dates: Created 2008/03/19; Completed 2008/04/22; Revised 2008/07/30;

PMID: 18238805, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Age Ageing. 2008 Jul;37(4):484; author reply 484-5. (PMID: 18515292)

CommentIn: Age Ageing. 2008 Mar;37(2):129-31. (PMID: 18349007)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Activities of Daily Living Age Factors Aged Aged, 80 and over Aging - physiology Analysis of Variance Cohort Studies Female Frail Elderly Geriatric Assessment - methods Health Status Indicators Humans

Male Mortality - trends Multivariate Analysis Predictive Value of Tests Probability Prognosis Proportional Hazards Models Prospective Studies Risk Assessment Sensitivity and Specificity Sex Factors Survival Analysis

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