Frailty Screening: Inflammatory Markers Assessment and Identification of Adverse Health Factors in Hospitalized Older Adults

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The detection of older individuals who are most vulnerable to adverse health effects (AHE) may be useful for practitioners in managing health care resources. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence and identify AHE after hospital discharge (HD). Methods: This cohort study included 135 hospitalized older individuals. Fragility was assessed by changes in the plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein and / or leukocytes. Results: Fragile individuals had a higher risk of rehospitalization, consumption of drugs, functional impairment and mortality within 30 days post-HD, and higher risk of functional disability at 180 days post-HD. Conclusion: More than one-third of hospitalized older individuals are fragile and require more attention in the first 30 days because of the associated AHE.