Background

The clinical frailty scale (CFS) was used as a triage tool for medical decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFS has been posed as a suitable risk marker for in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. We evaluated whether the CFS is associated with mortality 24 months after hospitalisation for COVID-19.

Methods

The COvid MEdicaTion (COMET) study is an international, multicentre, observational cohort study, including adult patients hospitalised for COVID-19 between March 2020-July 2020. Patients’ characteristics, prescribed medication, clinical characteristics, and CFS were collected at admission, survival data were collected 24 months after hospitalisation. Multivariable cox proportional hazard models stratified by age (<65 and ≥65 years), and adjusted for covariates (age, sex, number of drugs, and types of drug class as a proxy for comorbidities) were used to study the association between the CFS and 24-month mortality after hospitalisation.

Results

In this study, 1238 fit (CFS 1-3), 478 mildly frail (CFS 4-5), and 235 frail (CFS 6-9) patients were included for baseline analysis (median age 68 years (IQR 58-78); 58.5 % male). Frailty was associated with an increased risk of 24-month mortality after hospitalisation in older patients (HR 1.91, 95 % CI [1.17-3.12]), in younger adults a trend was seen (HR 3.13, 95 % CI [0.86-11.36]).

Conclusion

The results suggest that the CFS is an indicator for mortality 24 months after hospitalisation in COVID-19 patients.

© 2024 The Authors.

Overview publication

TitleAssociation between Clinical Frailty Scale and mortality 24 months after hospitalisation in adult patients with COVID-19.
DateDecember 15th, 2024
Issue nameHeliyon
Issue numberv10.23:e40456
DOI10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40456
PubMed39688505
AuthorsMinnema J, Lafeber M, Sablerolles RSG, van Kempen JAL, Tap L, Polinder-Bos HA, van de Loo BPA, van der Kuy H & Faes MC
InfoCOMET-, and COOP-research group, Aleman J, Tournoy J, Van der Linden L, Gambera M, Martignoni I, Van Etten R, van Onzenoort H, Kappers M, van Wijngaarden P, Verstijnen J, Theeuwes V, Kemper M, Slob E, Sombogaard F, Abdullah-Koolmees H, van den Berg R, de Wit H, Dilek B, Hogenhuis F, Buyukayten V, Te Brake B, Nieuwenhuijzen M, Scheeren M, de Wit M, Bulsink A, van Haelst I, Ter Horst P, Moorlag R, Vos A, Otten-Helmers A, van Kan E, Voskamp M, Ebbens M, Ezinga M, van Nieuwkoop C, Visser L, Ghazarian C, Hilarius D, Hermanides G, Bresser C, Derijks-Engwegen J, Boemaars E, Getrouw Z, Maat B, Wierenga P, Bosch T, Krens L, Liang K, Saleh L, van Heuckelum M, Hendriksen L, van der Linden P, Guda K, Crommentuijn K, Cornelissen-Wesseling I, Diepstraten J, Ellerbroek J, Coenradie S, Deben D, Hurkens K, Wong D, Vromen M, de Bock M, Savelkoul S, Wolters S, Andrews L, Jong E, Kranenburg R, Soares J, Falcao F, Solano M, Viegas E, Falcao M, Farinha H, Mendes D, Rijo J, Miarons M, Gorgas MQ, Yubero CG, Portillo Horcajada L, Keijzers K, Lim S, Ashfield L, Bell H, Fitzhugh N, Fleming G, Goodfellow N, Hanley J, Scott M, Mooijaart SP, Gussekloo J, Elders P, Peeters G
KeywordsCOVID-19, Frailty, Long-term, Survival
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