Trajectories of Frailty in the 5 Years Prior to Death Among U.S. Veterans Born 1927-1934.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic frailty indices (eFIs) are increasingly used to identify patients at risk for morbidity and mortality. Whether eFIs capture the spectrum of frailty change, including decline, stability, and improvement, is unknown.

Methods

In a nationwide retrospective birth cohort of U.S. Veterans, a validated eFI, including 31 health deficits, was calculated annually using medical record and insurance claims data (2002-2012). K-means clustering was used to assign patients into frailty trajectories measured 5 years prior to death.

Results

There were 214 250 veterans born between 1927 and 1934 (mean [SD] age at death = 79.4 [2.8] years, 99.2% male, 90.3% White) with an annual eFI in the 5 years before death. Nine frailty trajectories were identified. Those starti

SUBMITTER: Ward RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8825219 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature