The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults
Abstract Background Frailty is a state of high vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. It is an important factor influencing the prognosis of older, critically ill patients. Several methods to assess frailty were evaluated in the critical care setting. The Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale (PFFS) is a val...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05773-4 |
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| author | Liran Statlender Olga Theou Regina Merchshiev Tzippy Shochat Ilya Kagan Lisa Cooper |
| author_facet | Liran Statlender Olga Theou Regina Merchshiev Tzippy Shochat Ilya Kagan Lisa Cooper |
| author_sort | Liran Statlender |
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| description | Abstract Background Frailty is a state of high vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. It is an important factor influencing the prognosis of older, critically ill patients. Several methods to assess frailty were evaluated in the critical care setting. The Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale (PFFS) is a validated quick and easy-to-use tool for frailty assessment. It takes < 5 min to fill by the patient or caregiver; it requires no clinical examination by medical staff. This study evaluated the use of the PFFS in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A single-center retrospective study, performed in an 18-bed mixed medical-surgical ICU in a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. As of 1/9/2022, all older patients are routinely asked to fill out the PFFS. Patients were grouped based on their PFFS score. Baseline characteristics and admission outcomes were compared. Correlation between the PFFS and prognostic scores was examined. Mortality was analyzed using logistic and Cox regressions. Results 168 patients were included. 56 (33.33%) patients were non-frail, 81 (48.21%) were mildly-moderately frail, and 31 (18.45%) were severely frail. There were no differences in baseline characteristics or prognostic scores between frailty groups. No correlation was found between PFFS, age, APACHE2, and SOFA24. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated an association between frailty and 90d but not with ICU mortality. Cox regression demonstrated higher mortality in the mild-moderate frailty (HR 2.053, 95%CI 1.009, 4.179) and severe frailty (HR 4.353, (95% CI 1.934, 9.801)) groups compared to the non-frail group. Conclusion Frailty assessment by the PFFS in the ICU is feasible. Frailty is a distinct characteristic of older, critically ill patients and is independently associated with 90d mortality. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-d767144510dd4c6abe8fbd64e07a537c2025-08-20T03:13:18ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-02-012511910.1186/s12877-025-05773-4The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adultsLiran Statlender0Olga Theou1Regina Merchshiev2Tzippy Shochat3Ilya Kagan4Lisa Cooper5Department of General Intensive Care, Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson HospitalSchool of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of General Intensive Care, Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson HospitalStatistical consulting unit, Rabin Medical CentreDepartment of General Intensive Care, Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson HospitalSchool of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityAbstract Background Frailty is a state of high vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. It is an important factor influencing the prognosis of older, critically ill patients. Several methods to assess frailty were evaluated in the critical care setting. The Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale (PFFS) is a validated quick and easy-to-use tool for frailty assessment. It takes < 5 min to fill by the patient or caregiver; it requires no clinical examination by medical staff. This study evaluated the use of the PFFS in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A single-center retrospective study, performed in an 18-bed mixed medical-surgical ICU in a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. As of 1/9/2022, all older patients are routinely asked to fill out the PFFS. Patients were grouped based on their PFFS score. Baseline characteristics and admission outcomes were compared. Correlation between the PFFS and prognostic scores was examined. Mortality was analyzed using logistic and Cox regressions. Results 168 patients were included. 56 (33.33%) patients were non-frail, 81 (48.21%) were mildly-moderately frail, and 31 (18.45%) were severely frail. There were no differences in baseline characteristics or prognostic scores between frailty groups. No correlation was found between PFFS, age, APACHE2, and SOFA24. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated an association between frailty and 90d but not with ICU mortality. Cox regression demonstrated higher mortality in the mild-moderate frailty (HR 2.053, 95%CI 1.009, 4.179) and severe frailty (HR 4.353, (95% CI 1.934, 9.801)) groups compared to the non-frail group. Conclusion Frailty assessment by the PFFS in the ICU is feasible. Frailty is a distinct characteristic of older, critically ill patients and is independently associated with 90d mortality.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05773-4FrailtyPictorial fit-frail scaleOlder critically ill patientPrognostic scoresICU admission outcomes |
| spellingShingle | Liran Statlender Olga Theou Regina Merchshiev Tzippy Shochat Ilya Kagan Lisa Cooper The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults BMC Geriatrics Frailty Pictorial fit-frail scale Older critically ill patient Prognostic scores ICU admission outcomes |
| title | The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| title_full | The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| title_fullStr | The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| title_short | The pictorial fit-frail scale: a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| title_sort | pictorial fit frail scale a novel tool for frailty assessment in critically ill older adults |
| topic | Frailty Pictorial fit-frail scale Older critically ill patient Prognostic scores ICU admission outcomes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05773-4 |
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