Impact of Frailty Risk on Oral Intake and Length of Hospital Stay in Older Patients with Pneumonia: A Historical Cohort Study

Impact of frailty on pneumonia outcomes in older patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The ideal method for identifying frailty remains unclear, but the condition is associated with poor prognoses in many illnesses. Despite the availability of studies, the prognostic implications of frailty on older patients with pneumonia remains unexplored. To determine the burden and effect of frailty on selected clinical outcomes among older patients with pneumonia.

METHODS

We searched Medline, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases for articles published in English following the PRISMA framework to guide our review. We included studies conducted on patients (> 60 years) with frailty and pneumonia, and reporting the effect of frailty on mortality, hospital stay, length readmission, and ICU admission. We performed a meta-analysis using STATA 14.2, calculating pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

We analysed data from 16 studies and calculated a pooled frailty prevalence of 49% (95% CI 37-60%) in older patients with pneumonia. Unadjusted analyses revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 2.50 (95% CI 1.88-3.32) for the intermediate risk group, and an OR of 3.51 (95% CI 3.05-4.05) for the high risk group regarding mortality. The high risk frailty group also exhibited significant elevations in the risk of readmissions and extended hospital stay lengths. Substantial heterogeneity was observed in both adjusted and unadjusted analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review and meta-analysis results show that one in every two older individuals with pneumonia present frailty, a condition that significantly influences their rates of mortality and readmission, and their hospital stay length.

Validation of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score in older adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia

AIM

Frailty results from age-associated declines in physiological reserve and function and is prevalent in older people. Our aim is to examine the association of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) with adverse events in older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hypothesise that frailty is a comparable predictor of outcomes in CAP versus traditional severity indices such as CURB-65.

METHODS

Retrospective review of electronic medical records in patients ≥65 years with CAP admitted to a tertiary hospital from 1 January to 30 April 2021. Patients were identified using ICD codes for CAP and categorized as high risk (>15), intermediate risk (5-15) and low risk (<5) of frailty using the HFRS.

RESULTS

Of 429 patients with CAP, 53.8% male, mean age of 82.9 years, older patients (85 vs. 79.7 years, P < 0.001) were at higher risk of frailty. Using the HFRS, 47.6% were deemed at high risk, 35.9% at intermediate risk, and 16.6% at low risk of frailty. Multivariate logistic regression shows that HFRS was more strongly associated (≥7 days, OR 1.042, CI 1.017-1.069) than CURB-65 (OR 0.995, CI 0.810-1.222) with long hospital length of stay (LOS), while CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea >7mmol/L, Respiratory rate >30, Blood pressure, age => 65 years old) was more strongly associated with mortality at 30, 90 and 365 days, compared with the HFRS. Comparing the values for the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve, the HFRS was found to be a better predictor of long LOS, while CURB-65 remains a better predictor of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with high risk of frailty have higher healthcare utilization and HFRS is a better predictor of long LOS than CURB-65 but CURB-65 was a better predictor of mortality. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 135-141.

Malnutrition, Functional Decline, and Institutionalization in Older Adults after Hospital Discharge Following Community-Acquired Pneumonia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major threat to older adults, but mid-term implications are poorly described. The aim was to analyze functional decline, institutionalization, malnutrition, and risk factors after hospital admission for CAP.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included patients over 65 years discharged after CAP between May 2019 and July 2021. We performed a comprehensive geriatric assessment and a general nutritional assessment 30-60 days after CAP. This included the MNA and blood test with trace elements and vitamins. The main outcomes were functional decline, institutionalization, and malnutrition. Multivariate logistic regression was used for the analyses.

RESULTS

In total, 144 patients of 77.15 ± 7.91 years, 55.6% male, and 9% previously institutionalized were analyzed. At hospital admission, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 1.5 ± 1.6, the Pneumonia Severity Index was 98.1 ± 25.9, and the previous Barthel Index (BI) was 93.06 ± 17.13. Hospital stay was 9.72 ± 7.88 days. After 44.6 ± 14.4 days, 48.6% patients showed functional decline and 19.4% were institutionalized. Age (OR 1.17; CI 95% 1.09-1.26), previous institutionalization (29.1; 3.7-224.7), BI (1.09; 1.05-1.14), CCI (1.5; 1.1-2.1), and length of stay (1.1, 1.02-1.18) were independently associated with functional decline. The only predictors of new institutionalization were previous BI (0.96; 0.93-0.99) and length of stay (1.06; 1.00-1.13). The MNA indicated malnutrition in 28% of the community-dwelling patients and 67.9% of those institutionalized, with risk of malnutrition being 45.7% and 9.5%, respectively, after an average of 44.6 days of CAP diagnosis. The predictors of malnutrition were previous institutionalization (10.62; 2.20-51.21), BI (0.95; 0.92-0.98), and length of stay (1.12; 1.04-1.20). Micronutrient deficiencies were mainly zinc (61.8%), vitamin D (54.5%), and vitamin C (45.1%). An MNA score < 17 points or hypoalbuminemia showed good specificity to identify these deficiencies.

CONCLUSIONS

After CAP admission, functional decline, institutionalization, and malnutrition rates were high. Longer hospital stay was a common risk factor for all outcomes. The presence of hypoalbuminemia or an MNA < 17 in older patients should prompt suspicion of deficiencies in micronutrients, such as vitamin D, C, and zinc.