Development and validation of a frailty index based on data routinely collected across multiple domains in NSW hospitals. (19th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lo, Sarita Y.; Zhang, Meggie; Hubbard, Ruth E.; Gnjidic, Danijela; Redston, Mitchell R.; Hilmer, Sarah N.
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 40:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 194
• Publication Date: 2020-12-19
• Subjects: aged -- frailty -- inpatients -- patient‐centred care -- polypharmacy; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12888
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

Abstract: Objective(s): To develop and validate a frailty index (FI) that covers multiple domains, using routine hospital data. To investigate the FI's validity, after excluding medication‐related items (FI‐ExMeds), for studies of frailty and polypharmacy. Methods: A FI was derived from routine NSW hospital data following standard published guidance. In a development cohort (151 inpatients ≥ 70 years), the FI was correlated with the Reported Edmonton Frail Scale (REFS) using Pearson's R . Validity and distribution of FI and FI‐ExMeds, and correlation with each other, were evaluated in a validation cohort (999 inpatients ≥ 75 years). Results: The mean FI for the development cohort was 0.27 (SD 0.09). The FI showed moderate linear correlation with the REFS (n = 148, R = 0.52, P < .001). In the validation cohort, mean FI (n = 993) and FI‐ExMeds (n = 990) were both 0.28 (SD 0.11). FI‐ExMeds showed high linear correlation with the FI (n = 990, R = 0.99, P < .001). Conclusion: This multi‐domain FI is comparable to REFS, with adequate redundancy to exclude deficits for specific analyses.