Evaluating Frailty Using the Clinical Frailty Scale to Predict Outcomes in Older Adults with Pneumonia in the Emergency Department

What this Trial Is About

Pneumonia is a leading cause of death from infection among older adults. This research aims to study how well the Clinical Frailty Scale CFS, which measures a persons frailty or vulnerability, can predict death and illness in patients aged 65 and older who come to the emergency department with pneumonia. The study also evaluates whether adding frailty assessment to existing pneumonia severity scores improves predictions of outcomes. The study is a prospective observational cohort conducted at a tertiary university hospital emergency department. Participants aged 65 or older with pneumonia diagnosed by clinical and radiological means will be enrolled. Frailty will be assessed at the bedside using the 9-point Clinical Frailty Scale, and data including demographics, comorbidities, vital signs, and Pneumonia Severity Index PSI scores will be collected. The research compares frailty scores at presentation with baseline frailty before illness onset. Participants will be monitored for in-hospital mortality during their admission and for mortality within 30 days. Secondary outcomes include admission to intensive care and need for mechanical ventilation. Researchers will analyze if the Clinical Frailty Scale independently predicts these outcomes and if combining frailty with existing severity scores improves prognostic accuracy.

Frailty and Outcomes in Older Emergency Department Patients With Pneumonia