@article{ref1,
title="The impact of frailty on long-term functional outcomes in severely injured geriatric patients",
journal="Surgery",
year="2024",
author="Rafaqat, Wardah and Panossian, Vahe S. and Abiad, May and Ghaddar, Karen and Ilkhani, Saba and Grobman, Ben and Herrera-Escobar, Juan P. and Salim, Ali and Anderson, Geoffrey A. and Sanchez, Sabrina and Kaafarani, Haytham M. and Hwabejire, John O.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The incidence of severe injury in the geriatric population is increasing. However, the impact of frailty on long-term outcomes after injury in this population remains understudied. Therefore, we aimed to understand the impact of frailty on long-term functional outcomes of severely injured geriatric patients. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including patients ≥65 years old with an Injury Severity Score ≥15, who were admitted between December 2015 and April 2022 at one of 3 level 1 trauma centers in our region. Patients were contacted between 6 and 12 months postinjury and administered a trauma quality of life survey, which assessed for the presence of new functional limitations in their activities of daily living. We defined frailty using the mFI-5 validated frailty tool: patients with a score ≥2 out of 5 were considered frail. The impact of frailty on long-term functional outcomes was assessed using 1:1 propensity matching adjusting for patient characteristics, injury characteristics, and hospital site. <br><br>RESULTS: We included 580 patients, of whom 146 (25.2%) were frail. In a propensity-matched sample of 125 pairs, frail patients reported significantly higher functional limitations than nonfrail patients (69.6% vs 47.2%; P <.001). This difference was most prominent in the following activities: climbing stairs, walking on flat surfaces, going to the bathroom, bathing, and cooking meals. In a subgroup analysis, frail patients with traumatic brain injuries experienced significantly higher long-term functional limitations. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Frail geriatric patients with severe injury are more likely to have new long-term functional outcomes and may benefit from screening and postdischarge monitoring and rehabilitation services.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0039-6060",
doi="10.1016/j.surg.2024.06.036",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2024.06.036"
}