older adults

The evidence for assessing frailty and sarcopenia in an acute medical unit: a systematic review

Clinical Reviews, Volume 20, Issue 1, Pages 1-88 (2021)

Background/objectives: A systematic review was conducted to assess if frailty and sarcopenia were associated with poorer outcomes in older adults admitted to an acute medical unit (AMU).

Methods: Eligible studies included older adults with an unplanned admission to an AMU and included a measure of frailty or sarcopenia, completed within 72 hours of admission. Risk of bias was assessed.

Results: Of 1659 identified articles, 16 were included (4 on sarcopenia and 12 on frailty). There was significant study heterogeneity. Overall, frailty and sarcopenia were associated with worse outcomes. Targeted interventions appeared to improve outcomes.

Conclusion: Current evidence suggests some benefit in screening older adults admitted to an AMU for frailty and sarcopenia. However, further studies are required before clinical adoption.

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Screening instruments for identification of vulnerable older adults at the emergency department: a critical appraisal

Original Articles, Volume 17, Issue 3, Pages 117 – 172 (2018)

Abstract

Background: Early detection of vulnerable older adults at the emergency department (ED) and implementation of targeted interventions to prevent functional decline may lead to better patient outcomes.

Objective: To assess the level of agreement between four frequently used screening instruments: ISAR-HP, VMS, InterRAI ED Screener and APOP.

Methods: Observational prospective cohort study in patients ≥ 70 years attending Dutch ED.

Results: The prevalence of vulnerability ranged from 19% (APOP) to 45% (ISAR-HP). Overall there was a moderate agreement between the screening instruments (Fleiss Kappa of 0.42 (p<0.001)). Conclusion: Depending on the screening instrument used, either only a small percentage or almost as many as half of the presenting patients will be eligible for targeted interventions, leading to large dissimilarities in working processes, resources and costs.

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