It is not all black and white: The effect of increasing severity of frailty on outcomes of geriatric trauma patients

Qaidar Alizai, Christina Colosimo, Hamidreza Hosseinpour, Collin Stewart, Sai Krishna Bhogadi, Adam Nelson, Audrey L. Spencer, Michael Ditillo, Louis J. Magnotti, Bellal Joseph, Joseph D. Amos, Amanda Teichman, Melissa L. Whitmill, Sigrid K. Burruss, Julie A. Dunn, Kaveh Najafi, Laura N. Godat, Toby M. Enniss, Thomas H. Shoultz, Tanya EgodageTasce Bongiovanni, Joshua P. Hazelton, Kristin P. Colling, Todd W. Costantini, Deborah M. Stein, Thomas J. Schroeppel, Jeffry Nahmias, Khaled El-Qawaqzeh, Rachel L. Choron, Paul B. Comish, Kyle Leneweaver, Brandi Palmer, Michael S. Truitt, Mike Farrell, Lacee J. Laufenberg, Erica Lasso-Tay, Zachery Stillman, Daniel T. Hass, Heather M. Grossman, Darnell Gordon, Cassandra Krause, Jonathan Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND Frailty is associated with poor outcomes in trauma patients. However, the spectrum of physiologic deficits, once a patient is identified as frail, is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamic association between increasing frailty and outcomes among frail geriatric trauma patients. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of the American Association of Surgery for Trauma Frailty Multi-institutional Trial. Patients 65 years or older presenting to one of the 17 trauma centers over 3 years (2019-2022) were included. Frailty was assessed within 24 hours of presentation using the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index (TSFI) questionnaire. Patients were stratified by TSFI score into six groups: nonfrail (<0.12), Grade I (0.12-0.19), Grade II (0.20-0.29), Grade III (0.30-0.39), Grade IV (0.40-0.49), and Grade V (0.50-1). Our Outcomes included in-hospital and 3-month postdischarge mortality, major complications, readmissions, and fall recurrence. Multivariable regression analyses were performed. RESULTS There were 1,321 patients identified. The mean (SD) age was 77 years (8.6 years) and 49% were males. Median [interquartile range] Injury Severity Score was 9 [5-13] and 69% presented after a low-level fall. Overall, 14% developed major complications and 5% died during the index admission. Among survivors, 1,116 patients had a complete follow-up, 16% were readmitted within 3 months, 6% had a fall recurrence, 7% had a complication, and 2% died within 3 months postdischarge. On multivariable regression, every 0.1 increase in the TSFI score was independently associated with higher odds of index-admission mortality and major complications, and 3 months postdischarge mortality, readmissions, major complications, and fall recurrence. CONCLUSION The frailty syndrome goes beyond a binary stratification of patients into nonfrail and frail and should be considered as a spectrum of increasing vulnerability to poor outcomes. Frailty scoring can be used in developing guidelines, patient management, prognostication, and care discussions with patients and their families. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)434-442
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume96
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Frailty
  • frailty index
  • frailty spectrum
  • geriatric trauma
  • trauma outcomes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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