Poster Presentation 33rd ASM of the Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society 2023

Introduction

This study aims to assess comorbid factors associated with hospitalisation in a cohort referred to the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT). Geriatric assessments improve outcomes in older patients across different conditions and settings. Frailty and sarcopenia in older patients lead to negative consequences such as falls, fractures social isolation, functional decline and hospitalisation.

Method

Quality Improvement project to assess utility and comparison of frailty assessments and risk factors for hospitalisation.  Questionnaire included validated clinical assessment of risk factors for geriatric syndromes undertaken by ACAT Teams. Formal assessments included falls, mood (Geriatric Depression Scale - GDS5), Social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale - LSNS 5), Quality of life, Cognitive assessment (Mini Cog), Sarcopenia (SARCF), Frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale - CFS, Reported Edmonton and (Frail Scale - REFS). Statistics (SPSS): Univariate comparison of proportions using Chi squared tests and logistic regression reported as odds ratio (OR).

Results

Total 990 ACAT assessments (76% community and 24% inpatient assessments). Female 65% and male 35%; mean age 84.5 (SD 3.7 years); age range 60 106 years; 96% aged 70 years and above. In the preceding 12 months 59% reported 1 or more falls, 67% were hospitalised (35% once, 15% twice and 17% three or more times); 35% reported a fracture since age 50 years (22.3% in the preceding 3 years).

Table 1 reports the main significant association (p <0.05) with hospitalisation from highest to lowest ranking: REFS (r = 0.389), SARC F (r = 0.240), falls (r = 0.232), GDS (r = 0.185), fractures (0.128), CFS (r = 0.121) and LSNS 6 (r = 0.067)

Conclusion

Incorporating falls, fracture, frailty and sarcopenia assessment tools into an ACAT assessment adds value in predicting patients at high risk of admission.