Background: Frailty, a complex, multidimensional syndrome linked to increased falls risks, admission, & mortality. We hypothesized that higher mFI-5 scores would correlate with worse outcomes & increased mortality in our geriatric population.

Methods: A Retrospective analysis was conducted & comparative analyses of age groups (55-64 vs ≥65 years), gender & outcome were performed. The Modified 5-Item Frailty Index was assessed & multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the prolonged hospitalization. mFI-5 was calculated by assigning one point for each comorbidity present: diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, COPD, & functionally dependent health status. Outcomes included complications, length of stay, & mortality.

Results: Of 15,000 trauma admissions between 2010 & 2021; 11% were geriatrics with a mean age of 65.5±9.5. 35% of injuries occurred due to home falls. Mortality was 8%, with a higher rate among males than females. Higher frailty grades were associated with home- falls & head injuries. Patients" ≥65 years were more likely to have higher frailty scores. Among the older group, 25% were moderately frail, & 18% severely frail. Half of the younger group had no frailty. Higher frailty scores significantly correlated with increased AKI (7.0% vs. 1.4%), pneumonia (7.5% vs. 3.1%), UTIs (6.4% vs. 1.4%), & longer stays (10 vs. 5 days). Severe Frailty significantly increased in intervention rates; tracheostomy (8.1% vs. 2.4%, p=0.001), dialysis (7.0% vs. 0.9 %,), & transfusions (30.1% vs. 17.0%), ventilator use (22.0% vs. 14.4%), & mortality (12.4% vs. 10.6 %). On multivariable regression adjusting for demographics & injury details, Severe frailty significantly predicted longer hospitalization (odds ratio 1.83, p=0.007).

Conclusions: Frailty was associated with longer hospitalizations, complications, & mortality. The admission mFI-5 is a quick, intuitive & useful tool for frailty determination.

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