Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/12782
Title: Predicting intensive care and hospital outcome with the Dalhousie Clinical Frailty Scale: a pilot assessment.
Austin Authors: Fisher, C ;Karalapillai, Dharshi ;Bailey, Michael;Glassford, Neil J;Bellomo, Rinaldo ;Jones, Daryl A 
Affiliation: Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria.
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Austin Health and School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Critical Care Outreach, Austin Health and Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria.
Issue Date: 1-May-2015
Publication information: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care; 43(3): 361-8
Abstract: Frailty may help to predict intensive care unit (ICU) patient outcome. The Dalhousie Clinical Frailty Scale (DCFS) is validated to assess frailty in ambulatory settings but has not been investigated in Australian ICUs. We conducted a prospective three-month study of patients admitted to a tertiary level ICU. Within 24 hours of ICU admission, the next of kin or nurse in charge assigned a DCFS score to the patient. Data were obtained to assess the association between frailty and patient outcome. The DCFS score was completed in 205 of 348 (59%) of eligible patient admissions. The mean DCFS score was 3.2 (±1.6). Overall frailty (DCFS >4) occurred in 28 of 205 patients (13%, confidence interval 9% to 17%), 13 of 93 (15%, confidence interval 10% to 25%) in patients aged >65 years and 5 of 11 (45%, confidence interval 21% to 71%) in those >85 years. Patients with chronic liver disease (P <0.001) and end-stage renal failure (P=0.009) were more likely to be frail. The DCFS score was not significantly associated with ICU or hospital mortality: odds ratio 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.6 to 1.6) and odds ratio 1.07 (95% confidence interval 0.8 to 1.4), respectively. However, after adjustment for illness severity and requirement for palliative care, the DCFS score was significantly associated with increased (log) hospital length-of-stay (P=0.04) and age (P=0.001). Approximately 1 in 10 ICU patients were frail and this frequency increased with age. The DCFS was associated with patient age and comorbidities and potentially predicts increased hospital length-of-stay but not other outcomes. Strategies to improve compliance with DCFS completion are needed.
Gov't Doc #: 25943611
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/12782
Journal: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25943611
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: critical illness
frailty
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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