FRAILTY SYNDROME AMONG ELDERLY IN SURGERY AND NEED FOR ASSISTED DISCHARGE. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lusignani, M; Accardi, R; Ronchi, S
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 640
• Page End: 640
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.2387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Frailty, a relevant problem for the elderly, has an impact on hospital costs. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of frail elderly who undergo surgery and assess if frailty can be related to needing assisted discharge. An observational study was conducted in November 2016-January 2017 on a sample of over 65 elderly patients admitted to the surgical departments of a hospital in Milan. To assess frailty, we evaluated comorbidity, dependence in ADL, speed gain, nutritional status, cognitive function, geriatric fall syndrome, chronic anemia. 223 subjects were included: 15, 2% were frail, 36, 8% prefrail. Frailty syndrome was related to age (ρ=0.45, p<0.001), major and emergency surgery (ρ=0, 57 and ρ=0.44, p<0.001), to longer postoperative stay (ρ=0.67, p<0.001) and to the need for assisted discharge (ρ=0.42, p<0.001). Frailty is a common syndrome and implementation of a network for assisted discharge can be useful to support frail subjects at home.