title: Prevalence of frailty and its association with mortality in general surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the prevalence of frailty in an older acute general surgical population and its correlation with length of hospital stay, readmission to hospital, and 30- and 90-day mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 3 acute surgical admission units, we assessed consecutive participants aged over 65 years with general surgical conditions. We measured the prevalence of frailty using a 7-point frailty score. We measured length of hospital stay, readmission to hospital, and mortality at both 30 and 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 325 participants with an average age of 77.3 years 8.2 (standard deviation), 185 (57%) women. There were 88 (28%) participants who were classified as being mildly, moderately, or severely frail. The frail group spent longer in hospital (7.6 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.1 to 9.2 vs 11.1, 95% CI 7.2 to 15.0; P = .03). They also were more likely to die at both 30 and 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 15.2, P = .04; OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 7.4, P = .02). Readmission to hospital did not differ (OR 1.1, 95% CI .5 to 2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over 1 in 4 people were frail. These individuals spent longer in hospital and were more likely to die.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff University, University Hospital, Llandough, Cardiff CF64 2XX, UK. Electronic address: hewittj2@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.affiliation: University of Glasgow, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Corsebar Road, Paisley PA2 9PN, UK.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moug
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Maeve
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: West of Scotland Rotation, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Corsebar Road, Paisley PA2 9PN, UK.
authors.forename: Mohua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK.
authors.forename: Micheal J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stechman
authors.affiliation: North Bristol NHS Trust, Frenchay Park Road, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000401:mortality*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Acute general surgery; Frailty; Length of hospital stay and mortality; Older people