Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) indicated frailty is associated with increased in-hospital and 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background The concept of frailty provides an age-independent, easy-to-use tool for risk stratification. We aimed to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of frailty tools in risk assessment in COVID-19 patients. Methods The protocol was registered (CRD42021241544). Studies reporting on frailty in COVID-19 patients were eligible. The main outcomes were mortality, length of hospital stay (LOH) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in frail and non-frail COVID-19 patients. Frailty was also compared in survivors and non-survivors. Five databases were searched up to 24th September 2021. The QUIPS tool was used for the risk of bias assessment. Odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 and χ2 tests. Results From 3640 records identified, 54 were included in the qualitative and 42 in the quantitative synthesis. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was used in 46 studies, the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) by 4, the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) by 3 and three studies used other scores. We found that patients with frailty (CFS 4–9 or HFRS ≥ 5) have a higher risk of mortality (CFS: OR: 3.12; CI 2.56–3.81; HFRS OR: 1.98; CI 1.89–2.07). Patients with frailty (CFS 4–9) were less likely to be admitted to ICU (OR 0.28, CI 0.12–0.64). Quantitative synthesis for LOH was not feasible. Most studies carried a high risk of bias. Conclusions As determined by CFS, frailty is strongly associated with mortality; hence, frailty-based patient management should be included in international COVID-19 treatment guidelines. Future studies investigating the role of frailty assessment on deciding ICU admission are strongly warranted.

Association of Frailty, Organ Support, and Long-Term Survival in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19

“…As the pandemic advances, other investigations on the associations of frailty, organ support, and long-term survival in critically ill patients with COVID-19 might provide new insights. However, recent systematic reviews studying frailty in hospitalized COVID-19 patients demonstrated that all reports concern databases from 2020, similar to ours ( 3 , 27 ). And the association of the concept of frailty with ICU outcomes has been demonstrated before COVID-19 ( 23 ), highlighting that it is not specific to this infectious disease.…”

Impact of frailty on clinical outcomes in patients with and without COVID-19 pneumonitis admitted to intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand: A retrospective registry data analysis

“…It is well established that higher degrees of frailty have been associated with poor outcomes and higher mortality rates during and after ICU admission [38,39]. Similarly, we observed that hospital mortality increased with increasing frailty in both patients with and without COVID-19.…”

Impact of frailty on clinical outcomes in patients with and without COVID-19 pneumonitis admitted to intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand: a retrospective registry data analysis

“…It is well established that higher degrees of frailty have been associated with poor outcomes and higher mortality rates during and after ICU admission [ 42 , 43 ]. Similarly, we observed that hospital mortality increased with increasing frailty in both patients with and without COVID-19.…”