No abstract

Background Despite increasing evidence that assessing frailty facilitates medical decision-making, a quick and clinically simple frailty assessment tool is not available for trauma settings. Study Design This study examined accuracy and acceptability of a novel wearable technology (upper-extremity frailty: UEF) to objectively assess frailty status in older adults (≥65 years) admitted to the hospital due to traumatic ground-level falls. Frailty was measured using a validated modified Rockwood questionnaire, the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index (TSFI), as the gold standard. Participants performed a ~20-second trial of rapid elbow flexion with the dominant elbow in a supine posture while wearing the UEF system. Results We recruited 101 eligible older adults (Age: 79±9 years). UEF parameters indicative of slowness, weakness, and exhaustion during elbow flexion were independent predictors of the TSFI score, while adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index. A high agreement (r=0.72, p<.0001) was observed between TSFI score and UEF model; sensitivity and specificity for predicting the frailty status were 78% and 82%, respectively. Of recruited participants 57% were not able to walk at the time of measurements, suggesting a limitation for walking-based frailty assessments. Significant correlations were observed between UFE parameters and number of falls within a prior year, with highest correlation observed for elbow flexion slowness (r=−0.41). Conclusions The results suggest that a simple test of 20-second elbow flexion may be practical and sensitive to identify frailty among hospitalized older adults. The UEF test is independent of walking assessments, reflects several frailty markers, and it is practical for bed-bound patients.

Prognostic study, level II.

Prognostic study, level II.