Evaluation of frailty and its effects in hospitalized geriatric population

ABSTRACT Nurefşan Cihangiroglu Unal, MD. Evaluation of frailty and its effects in hospitalized geriatric population. Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Department of Internal Medicine, Residency Thesis, Ankara, 2017. Frailty syndrome is seen in high prevalences in hospitalized elderly patients and is usually under diagnosed. In this research our aim is to diagnose frailty in elderly patients that are hospitalized due to acute health problems using readily usable and practical methods and evaluate the effects on bad health outcomes. Fifty seven patients are included in this research that are hospitalized in Hacettepe Internal Medicine wards between March 2017 and September 2017 due to acute health problems that is over 65 years of age. Patients' frailty measurements are done using Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Comprehensive geriatric assesment tests were performed. Bioelectric- impedance analysis (BIA) method was used to asses muscle mass and muscle strength was assessed with hand grip measurements. Patients are followed for bad health outcomes. Comprehensive geriatric assesment results were found to be related with frailty in both scales. Spearman correlation analysis showed positive correlation between EFS and comprehensive geriatric assesment tests. Hand grip strength was lower in frail patients and showed significant correlation between EFS scores. Frail patients' hospitalization periods was found to be longer but this was not statistically significant. There was one mortality in the patients and this patient was in the frail patient population in both scales. Key Words: Edmonton Frail Scale, hand grip, frailty, length of stay.