EP.FRI.997 Recognising frailty: the scale of the problem. (28th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martin, Laura; Chapman, Susan; Broadbent, Elizabeth; Payne, Christopher; Beecroft, Christina
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 108:Supplement 7(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10-28
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab312.143
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: To assess compliance with frailty scoring in acute surgical admissions. Method: Data including age, admitting speciality, whether the frailty score was completed and the recorded score if completed, were collected for all admissions to an acute surgical unit over a 7 day period in November 2019. Results: The average age of the 139 patients was 56.25 years (range 16-89). Frailty scoring was completed in 53 patients (38.1%); 8 patients (15%) met the criteria for frailty. Sixty-four patients (46%) were aged over 65 years, 26 (40.6%) had the score completed and 7 (27%) met the frailty criteria. Of 36 patients (26%) aged 75 or over, 16 (44.4%) were scored and 6 (37.5%) met the frailty criteria. Scoring was most frequently completed in patients admitted under the Vascular Surgery team (52.9% compliance) with a mean score 3.8. Conclusion: Worsening frailty is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in acute surgical admissions. The 7-point Clinical Frailty Scale has been added our acute surgical admission document and should be completed for every patient. Our compliance with scoring is a long way from our recommended 100%, with compliance with assessing frailty across age groups similar, despite the increased rates of frailty seen in older age groups. Poor compliance with frailty assessment may hamper future progress with the management of the frail, older surgical patient. We are planning documentation changes, staff education sessions and to appoint frailty 'champions' with a repeat audit of compliance to assess the effects of these changes.