A frailty census of older adults in the emergency department and acute inpatient settings of a model 4 hospital in the Mid-West of Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a risk factor for presentation to the ED, in-hospital mortality, prolonged hospital stays and functional decline at discharge. Profiling the prevalence and level of frailty within the acute hospital setting is vital to ensure evidence-based practice and service development within the construct of frailty. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to establish the prevalence of frailty and co-morbidities among older adults in an acute hospital setting. METHODS: Data collection was undertaken by clinical research nurses and advanced nurse practitioners experienced in assessing older adults. All patients aged ≥ 65 years and admitted to a medical or surgical inpatient setting between 08:00 and 20:00 and who attended the ED over a 24-h period were screened using validated frailty and co-morbidity scales. Age and gender demographics, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson Co-morbidity Index (CCI) and admitting specialty (medical/surgical) were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to profile the cohort, and p values were calculated to ascertain the significance of results. RESULTS: Within a sample of 413 inpatients, 291 (70%) were ≥ 65 years and therefore were included in the study. 202 of these 291 older adults (70%) were ≥ 75 years. Frailty was investigated using validated clinical cut-offs on the CFS (not frail < 5; frail ≥ 5). Comorbidities were investigated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (mild 1-2; moderate 3-4; severe ≥ 5). The median CFS was 6 indicating moderate frailty levels, and the median CCI score was 3 denoting moderate co-morbidity. In the inpatient cohort, 245 (84%) screened positive for frailty, while 223 (75%) had moderate-severe co-morbidity (CCI Mod 3-4, severe ≥ 5). No significant differences were observed across genders for CFS and CCI. In the ED, 81 patients who attended the ED were ≥ 65 years. The median CFS was 6 (moderate frailty), and the median CCI was 5 (severe co-morbidity level). Seventy-four percent (60) of participants screened positively for frailty (CFS ≥ 5), and 31% (25) had a CFS of 7 or greater (severely frail). Ninety-six percent (78) of patients had a moderate-severe level of comorbidity. No significant associations were found between the CFS and CCI and ED participants age, gender, and medical/surgical speciality usage. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of frailty and co-morbidity among older adults who present to the ED and require inpatient care. This may contribute to increased waiting times, lengths of stay, and the need for specialist intervention. With an increased focus on the integration of care for older adults across care transitions, there is a clear need for expansion of frailty-based services, staff training in frailty care and multidisciplinary team resources across the hospital and community setting.

Delirium care in hospitals in Ireland on World Delirium Awareness Day 2023.

BACKGROUND: Acute, transient, but sometimes persistent, delirium is characterized by a sharp disruption in attention, consciousness, and cognitive function, and can be caused by many medications and disorders. Delirium occurrence and negative consequences, such as falls and functional decline, can be decreased with multifactorial prevention and timely detection. AIMS: To describe current clinical practice in relation to the prevention, assessment, and management of delirium in Irish hospitals; awareness-raising and educational activities; and barriers to good practice. METHODS: On World Delirium Awareness Day (15th March 2023), a global survey was conducted of delirium prevalence and care. A senior clinical staff member on each participating ward reported on delirium prevalence at 8AM and 8PM, and on usual ward practice; this data was entered into an online survey by a data collector (typically a clinician from the site, visiting several wards to record data). This study reports data from Irish hospitals. RESULTS: In total, 132 wards from 15 hospitals across Ireland participated. Almost 60% of wards used 'personal judgment' for delirium assessment. Having at least one delirium training session in the preceding year was associated with greater use of a formal assessment tool (60.3% versus 18.8%; p < 0.001). Wards reported staff training/education as the main priority to improve care, but 72.7% of wards identified insufficient time to train staff as a key barrier. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical practice related to delirium care requires improvement. Awareness raising and staff training require more focus and time in busy clinical settings.

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study of Process, Clinical, and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Background: This study aimed to explore the process, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes of older adults who received an interdisciplinary Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the emergency department (ED) over a six-month period after their initial ED attendance. Patients and Methods: A prospective cohort study recruited older adults aged ≥65 years who presented to the ED of a university teaching hospital in Ireland. Baseline assessment data comprising a battery of demographic variables and validated indices were obtained at the index ED attendance. Telephone interviews were completed with participants at 30- and 180-day follow-up. The primary outcome was incidence of hospital admission following the index ED attendance. Secondary outcomes included participant satisfaction, incidence of functional decline, health-related quality of life, incidence of unscheduled ED re-attendance(s), hospital (re)admission(s), nursing home admission, and death. Results: A total of 133 participants (mean age 82.43 years, standard deviation = 6.89 years; 71.4% female) were recruited; 21.8% of the cohort were admitted to hospital following the index ED attendance with a significant decline in function reported at hospital discharge (Z = 2.97, p = 0.003). Incidence of 30- and 180-day unscheduled ED re-attendance was 10.5% and 24.8%, respectively. The outcome at the index ED attendance was a significant predictor of adverse outcomes whereby those who were discharged home had significantly lower odds of multiple adverse process outcomes at 30- and 180-day follow-up, and significantly higher function and health-related quality of life at 30-day follow-up. Conclusion: While this study was observational in nature, findings suggest CGA in the ED may improve outcomes by mitigating against the adverse effects of potentially avoidable hospital admissions and focusing on a longitudinal approach to healthcare delivery at the primary-secondary care interface. Future research should be underpinned by an experimental study design to address key limitations in this study.

A physiotherapy-led transition to home intervention for older adults following Emergency Department discharge: a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults frequently attend the emergency department (ED) and experience high rates of adverse outcomes following ED presentation including functional decline, ED re-presentation and unplanned hospital admission. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a physiotherapy-led integrated care intervention for older adults discharged from the ED (ED-PLUS). METHODS: Older adults presenting to the ED with undifferentiated medical complaints and discharged within 72 hours were computer randomised in a ratio of 1:1:1 to deliver usual care, Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the ED, or ED-PLUS (trial registration: NCT04983602). ED-PLUS is an evidence-based and stakeholder-informed intervention to bridge the care transition between the ED and community by initiating a CGA in the ED and implementing a 6-week, multi-component, self-management programme in the patient's own home. Feasibility (recruitment and retention rates) and acceptability of the programme were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Functional decline was examined post-intervention using the Barthel Index. All outcomes were assessed by a research nurse blinded to group allocation. RESULTS: Twenty-nine participants were recruited, indicating 97% of our recruitment target; 90% of participants completed the ED-PLUS intervention. All participants expressed positive feedback about the intervention. The incidence of functional decline at 6 weeks was 10% in the ED-PLUS group versus 70%-89% in the usual care and CGA-only groups. DISCUSSION: High adherence and retention rates were observed among participants and preliminary findings indicate a lower incidence of functional decline in the ED-PLUS group. Recruitment challenges existed in the context of COVID-19. Data collection is ongoing for 6-month outcomes.

A physiotherapy-led transition to home intervention for older adults following emergency department discharge: protocol for a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Older adults frequently attend the emergency department (ED) and experience high rates of adverse outcomes following ED presentation including functional decline, ED re-presentation and unplanned hospital admission. The development of effective interventions to prevent such outcomes is a key priority for research and service provision. This paper reports a protocol designed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a three arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) within the ED setting and in the patient's home. The interventions are comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), ED PLUS and usual care. METHODS: The ED PLUS pilot trial is designed as a feasibility RCT conducted in the ED and Acute Medical Assessment Unit of a university teaching hospital in the mid-west region of Ireland. We aim to recruit 30 patients, aged 65 years and over presenting to the ED with undifferentiated medical complaints and discharged within 72 h of index visit. Patients will be randomised by a computer in a ratio of 1:1:1 to deliver usual care, CGA or ED PLUS during a 6-month study period. A randomised algorithm is used to perform randomization. CGA will include a medical assessment, medication review, nursing assessment, falls assessment, assessment of mobility and stairs, transfers, personal care, activities of daily living (ADLs), social supports and baseline cognition. ED PLUS, a physiotherapist led, multidisciplinary intervention, aims to bridge the transition of care between the index visit to the ED and the community by initiating a CGA intervention in the ED and implementing a 6-week follow-up self-management programme in the patient's own home following discharge from the ED. The outcomes will be parameters of the feasibility of the intervention and trial methods and will be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. DISCUSSION: Rising ED visits and an ageing population with chronic health issues render ED interventions to reduce adverse outcomes in older adults a research priority. This feasibility RCT will generate data and experience to inform the conduct and delivery of a definite RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in Clinical Trials Protocols and Results System as of 21st July 2021, with registration number NCT049836020 .

The impact of frailty Screening of Older adults with muLtidisciplinary assessment of those At Risk during emergency hospital attendance on the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of care (SOLAR): a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Older people account for 25% of all Emergency Department (ED) admissions. This is expected to rise with an ageing demographic. Older people often present to the ED with complex medical needs in the setting of multiple comorbidities. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) has been shown to improve outcomes in an inpatient setting but clear evidence of benefit in the ED setting has not been established. It is not feasible to offer this resource-intensive assessment to all older adults in a timely fashion. Screening tools for frailty have been used to identify those at most risk for adverse outcomes following ED visit. The overall aim of this study is to examine the impact of CGA on the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of care in an undifferentiated population of frail older people with medical complaints who present to the ED and Acute Medical Assessment Unit. METHODS: This will be a parallel 1:1 allocation randomised control trial. All patients who are ≥ 75 years will be screened for frailty using the Identification of Seniors At Risk (ISAR) tool. Those with a score of ≥ 2 on the ISAR will be randomised. The treatment arm will undergo geriatric medicine team-led CGA in the ED or Acute Medical Assessment Unit whereas the non-treatment arm will undergo usual patient care. A dedicated multidisciplinary team of a specialist geriatric medicine doctor, senior physiotherapist, specialist nurse, pharmacist, senior occupational therapist and senior medical social worker will carry out the assessment, as well as interventions that arise from that assessment. Primary outcomes will be the length of stay in the ED or Acute Medical Assessment Unit. Secondary outcomes will include ED re-attendance, re-hospitalisation, functional decline, quality of life and mortality at 30 days and 180 days. These will be determined by telephone consultation and electronic records by a research nurse blinded to group allocation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid-Western Regional Hospital Research Ethics Committee (088/2020). Our lay dissemination strategy will be developed in collaboration with our Patient and Public Involvement stakeholder panel of older people at the Ageing Research Centre and we will present our findings in peer-reviewed journals and national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04629690 . Registered on November 16, 2020.