Abstract

Background: In this study, we examined the correlation between frailty levels and mortality/readmission rates in older (65+ years) inpatients.

Methods: A total of 1,156 individuals aged ≥ 65 years who had been admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital were assessed for frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). With the patients categorized as CFS 1–3, 4–6, or 7–9, multinomial logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between frailty and short-term readmission and mortality.

Results: Patients who were CFS 4–6 had a 5.63% higher risk of short-term readmission (odds ratio [OR], 1.516; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.947–2.427) and a 9.98% higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.463; 95% CI, 0.992–2.157) than those categorized as CFS 1–3. Those who were CFS 7–9 had an 8.96% higher risk of short-term readmission (OR, 2.144; 95% CI, 1.284–2.427) and a 23.37% higher risk of mortality (HR, 2.036; 95% CI, 1.349–3.072) than those who were CFS 1–3.

Conclusion: CFS can be used to predict short-term readmission to the emergency department in older patients and survival time in a graded manner.