Investigation of factors causing frailty in older adults hospitalized in the intensive care unit according to the integrative model of frailty development

The aim of this study, which has a descriptive, cross-sectional design, is to examine the risk factors that cause frailty in elderly individuals in intensive care according to the Integrative Model of Frailty Development. The study was carried out between November 2022 and March 2023 in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, General Hospital Intensive Care Units. The study sample consisted of 256 patients. Patient Information Form, Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale (HLBS-2), Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale (MNA) and Edmonton Frailty Scale were used to collect research data. Spearman correlation coefficient was checked in SPSS 23 program; Mann Whitney–U test, Kruskal Wallis test and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. As a result of the analysis, the mean frailty score of the patients was found to be 7.36±4.55. A significant difference was found between frailty and the variables of advanced age (p<0.001) and female gender (p=0.048), low education level (p=0.022), low income level (p<0.001), having a preliminary diagnosis of acute renal failure (p=0.028), hospitalization history in the last year (p<0.001) and history of falls in the last year (p=0.039) (p<0.05). A significant negative relationship was found between SYBD-2 scale score (r: -0.625) and MNA scale score (r: -0.660) and frailty (p<0.001). As age increases and SYBD-2 scale score and MNA scale score decrease, frailty levels increase (p<0.001). Within the scope of the Integrative Model of Frailty Development in older adults hospitalized in ICU, it is recommended to screen for frailty risk factors at an early stage and plan comprehensive nursing care.