Prevalence and implications of frailty in acute stroke: systematic review & meta-analysis

Burton, J. K. , Stewart, J., Blair, M., Oxley, S., Wass, A., Taylor-Rowan, M. and Quinn, T. J. (2022) Prevalence and implications of frailty in acute stroke: systematic review & meta-analysis. Age and Ageing, 51(3), afac064. (doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac064) (PMID:35352795)

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Abstract

Background: frailty is common in older adults and associated with poor outcomes following illness. Although stroke is predominantly a disease of older people, our knowledge of frailty in stroke is limited. We aimed to collate the literature on acute stroke and frailty to estimate the prevalence of pre-stroke frailty and its associations with outcomes. Methods: paired researchers searched multidisciplinary electronic databases for papers describing frailty and acute stroke. We assessed risk of bias using Newcastle-Ottawa tools appropriate to study design. We created summary estimates of pre-stroke frailty using random effects models. We collated whether studies reported significant positive associations between frailty and clinical outcomes in adjusted models. Results: we included 14 studies (n = 27,210 participants). Seven studies (n = 8,840) used a frailty index approach, four studies (n = 14,924) used Hospital Frailty Risk Scores. Pooled prevalence of pre-stroke frailty was 24.6% (95% confidence interval, CI: 16.2–33.1%; low quality evidence, downgraded due to heterogeneity, bias). Combining frailty and pre-frailty (nine studies, n = 23,827), prevalence of any frailty syndrome was 66.8% (95%CI: 49.9–83.7%). Seven studies were at risk of bias, from participant selection or method of frailty assessment. Pre-stroke frailty was associated with all adverse outcomes assessed, including longer-term mortality (positive association in 6 of 6 studies reporting this outcome; odds ratio: 3.75 [95%CI: 2.41–5.70]), length of admission (3 of 4 studies) and disability (4 of 6 studies). Conclusions: despite substantial heterogeneity, whichever way it is measured, frailty is common in patients presenting with acute stroke and associated with poor outcomes. This has implications for the design of stroke services and pathways.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:JKB is supported by a Joint NHS Education for Scotland/Chief Scientist Office (NES/CSO) Postdoctoral Clinical Lectureship.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Burton, Dr Jenni and Taylor-Rowan, Dr Martin and Quinn, Professor Terry and Blair, Dr Mairi
Authors: Burton, J. K., Stewart, J., Blair, M., Oxley, S., Wass, A., Taylor-Rowan, M., and Quinn, T. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
Journal Name:Age and Ageing
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0002-0729
ISSN (Online):1468-2834
Published Online:29 March 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in Age and Ageing 51(3): afac064
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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