Predicting the Readmission and Mortality in Older Patients Hospitalized with Pneumonia with Preadmission Frailty.

Background: In older people, frailty has been recognized as an important prognostic factor. However, only a few studies have focused on multidimensional frailty as a predictor of mortality and readmission among inpatients with pneumonia.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the association between preadmission frailty and clinical outcomes after the hospitalization of older patients with pneumonia.

Design: Single-center, retrospective case-control study.

Setting: Acute phase hospital at Kobe, Japan.

Participants: The present study included 654 consecutive older inpatients with pneumonia.

Measurements: Frailty status before admission was assessed using total Kihon Checklist (KCL) score, which has been used as a self-administered questionnaire to assess comprehensive frailty, including physical, social, and cognitive status. The primary outcome was a composited 6-month mortality and readmission after discharge.

Results: In total, 330 patients were analyzed (median age: 79 years, male: 70.4%, median total KCL score: 10 points), of which 68 were readmitted and 10 died within 6 months. After multivariate analysis, total KCL score was associated with a composited 6-month mortality and readmission (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.12; p = 0.006). The cutoff value for total KCL score determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 15 points (area under the curve = 0.610). The group with a total KCL score ≥ 15 points had significantly higher readmission or mortality rates than the groups with a total KCL score < 15 points (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Preadmission frailty status in older patients with pneumonia was an independent risk factor for readmission and survival after hospitalization.