PREVALENCE OF FRAILTY IN ELDERLY WITH FALL RELATED HIP FRACTURE

I. Patsaki¹, M. Santikai², V. Vasiliou², G. Chelmis¹, C. Garnavos¹, V. Sakellari², G. Gioftsos²

Background: Frailty is a common clinical syndrome in older adults that carries an increased risk for poor health. It is an independent risk factor for fall related fracture. which  are the main cause for elderly to lose their independence and  go to long term care. Paying more attention to frailty may lead to lowering fall risks and even identifying those patients at risk and introducing them to preventive programs that promote physical well-being.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of frailty in elderly  Greek patients that had a fall related hip fracture and to assess their muscle strength and functionally  ability.

Methods: 154 consecutive elderly patients that were admitted to the Orthopedic department of Evaggelismos General Hospital of Athens from September 2019 till Februar  2020 were evaluated and 76 were eligible (inclusion criteria: falls related hip fracture, cognitive status that allowed assessement, living indepedently ) and included in the study. Clinical Frailty Scale was used as a screening tool for Frailty after  interviewing the patient and his/her relatives Handgrip dynometry was used for evaluation of muscle strength and Barthel index for functional ability.

Results: 76 elderly (23♂/53♀) with a falls related hip fracture were included (age:   mean± SD: 83±7.6).  Frailty was identified in 29% of patients, while elderly in pre-frail stat people us reached 30%.   Grip strength was 15±5 kg (mean ± SD). Muscle strength was significantly reduced in frail patients compared to non-frail (mean ± SD: 11.95kg ±3.7 vs16.8kg ±10, p<0.05).  Both men and women had a lower grip strength in relation to healthy elderly of matching age.  Additionally, functional ability was also significantly reduced between the two groups [median (IQR):50(20-80) vs100(85-100), p<0.05]. Women  noted significantly reduced functional ability in comparison to men (p<0.05).  A significant limitation is the small number of patients and the absence of a control group ( elderly people with no hip fracture).

Conclusion(s): Frailty was present in a significant percent of the population.  These patients ha dreduced muscle strength and functional ability to healthy elderly of matching age. Additionally, it was noted a significant reduction of muscle strength and functional ability of frail patients, consistent with the anticipated deterioration that these elderly are presented with.

Implications: The results support the need to raise awareness regarding the syndrome of frailty. A carefully screening of the elderly is needed in order to early identify those at risk. Further research is needed in order to carefully assess the burden of frailty and its consequences in the daily living of elderly.  

Funding, acknowledgements: None

Keywords: frailty, elderly, functional ability

Topic: Older people

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: General Hospital of Athens "Evaggelismos"

Committee: General Hospital of Athens "Evaggelismos"

Ethics number: 548