• Yu-Chieh Tsai, Edward Pei-Chuan Huang, Chien-Hua Huang, and Ya-Mei Chen.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
• CJEM. 2024 Aug 1; 26 (8): 549553549-553.

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors of physical, psychological, and social frailty among older adults in the emergency department, comparing these data with community population to understand emergency setting manifestations.MethodsConducted at the Emergency Department of National Taiwan University BioMedical Park Hospital, this prospective observational cohort study enrolled older adult patients over a three-month period. Frailty assessments included the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures scale for physical frailty, the Tilburg Frailty Indicator for psychological frailty, and the Makizako Social Frailty Index for social frailty. Data analysis involved a multivariable logistic model to determine the risk factors associated with each frailty type.ResultsOut of 991 older adult individuals seeking medical care, 207 participated in the study. The study found high prevalence rates of frailty: 46.38% for physical, 41.06% for psychological, and 48.79% for social frailty. Risk factors for frailty included older age and a history of falls. Interestingly, the prevalence of social frailty was notably higher than physical and psychological frailty. Gender and polypharmacy showed no significant association with any frailty type.ConclusionThis research reveals high physical, psychological, and social frailty among older ED patients, especially noting social frailty's prevalence. It highlights the importance for emergency care to adopt holistic care strategies that address older adults' multifaceted health challenges, suggesting a paradigm shift in current healthcare practices to better cater to the multifaceted needs of this vulnerable population.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP)/ Association Canadienne de Médecine d'Urgence (ACMU).

24 keywords...

hide…