Research Abstract: Free Paper - Poster Presentation Only Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Predictors of hospitalisation in a geriatric population referred for Aged Care Assessment Team Assessment in Western Australia   (#124)

Charles Inderjeeth 1 , Emma Boland 2 , Jane Gale 2 , Jane Nutter 2
  1. North Metropolitan Health and University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  2. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia

63d9f7f24846b-ACAT+Frailty+and+sarcopenia+ANZSGM+2023.jpgAim: Assess patient comorbid factors that are associated with hospital admissions in a cohort referred for e Aged Care Assessment (ACAT).

 

Method: As part of the assessment by the ACAT the questionnaire included several validated clinical assessment tools and assessment of risk factors for geriatric syndromes.  This project was approved as a Quality Improvement Project. Clients had a formal risk assessment including depression (GDS5), Lubben Social Network Scale (LN-6), falls, sarcopenia (SARC-F), Quality of life VAS (QoL), Dalhousie Clinical Frailty Scale (DCFS) and Reported Edmonton Frail Scale (REFS).

 

Results: A total of 990 clients had an ACAT assessment; 76% in the community and 24% inpatients . Mean age 84.5 years (SD 3.7) and 96% were greater than 70 years; 64.6% female. Fifty-six percent described pain as a symptom; 31% moderate to severe. Sixty-seven percent were on 5 or more prescribed medications. Fifty-nine percent reported  I or more fall in the preceding 12 months. Thirty-four percent reported a fracture since age 50 years. Sixty-two percent reported admission in the preceding 12 months; 31% once, 14.5% twice and 16% . twice. Table 1 reports the main significant associations (p<0.05) with hospital admissions from highest to lowest: REFS (r = 0.515), SARC-F (r = 0.297), DCFS (r = 0.253), number of falls (r = 0.250), GDS (r = 0.161), QoL (r = -0.137) and LSNS-6 ( r = 0.080).

 

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