Determining the frailty status in patients who apply for home health care

Abstract

Background To examine the relationship between an institutionally prepared standardized patient evaluation form and the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) in patients receiving home health care. Material and Methods Our prospective, observational study included 200 patients over the age of 18 who requested home health care, regardless of gender. The EFS and institutional data collection forms were applied consecutively on the same day to all patients included in the study. Results Among the 200 individuals recruited for the study, 59% were female and 41% were male; the overall average age was 80 years. According to the EFS results, 4.5% of the patients were classified as non-frail, 6% were vulnerable, and 89.5% had varying degrees of frailty (mild, moderate and severe). There was a significant positive correlation between EFS score and age (p<0.001). There was no significant relationship between EFS score and confinement to bed; however, EFS scores were higher in bedridden patients (p=0.017). The EFS score was higher in those with chronic disease (p<0.001). A >9 threshold for EFS score could identify those in need of home health care services, with a sensitivity of 80.34% and a specificity of 90.91%. Conclusion Age is an important risk factor for frailty, and the presence of chronic illness and confinement to bed may potentiate its effects. On the contrary, the level of personal care, pain conditions and pressure sores/ulcers were unassociated with frailty. It was determined that the EFS score could be supportive in distinguishing patients in need of home health care services.

Keywords

• Home health care
• frailty
• Edmonton frail scale
• aging
• bed confinement

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