N Bleijenberg1, V H Ten Dam, I Drubbel, M E Numans, N J de Wit, M J Schuurmans. 1. Nienke Bleijenberg, RN, PhD. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan100, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Phone: +31 88 75 53612; Fax: +31 88 75 68099; email: N.Bleijenberg@umcutrecht.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the complex care needs, level of frailty or quality of life of multi-morbid older patients. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between frailty, complexity of care and quality of life in multi-morbid older people. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Thirteen primary care practices in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 1,150 multi-morbid older people living in the community. MEASUREMENTS: The level of frailty was assessed with the Groningen Frailty Indicator. Complexity of care needs was measured with the Intermed for the Elderly Self-Assessment. Quality of life (QoL) was measured with two items of the RAND-36. RESULTS: In total, 758 out of 1,150 (65.9%) patients were frail, 8.3% had complex care needs, and the mean QoL score was 7.1 (standard deviation 1.2). Correlations between frailty and complexity, frailty and QoL, and complexity of care and QoL were 0.67, -0.51 and -0.52 (all p<0.001) respectively. All patients with complex care needs were frail, but, only 12.5% of the frail patients had complex care needs. Problems at climbing up stairs was associated with higher levels of frailty and complexity of care but with a lower QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of frailty and complexity of care are associated with a lower QoL in multi-morbid older people. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding these concepts and are valuable for the development of tailored interventions for older persons in the future.
BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the complex care needs, level of frailty or quality of life of multi-morbid older patients. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between frailty, complexity of care and quality of life in multi-morbid older people. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Thirteen primary care practices in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 1,150 multi-morbid older people living in the community. MEASUREMENTS: The level of frailty was assessed with the Groningen Frailty Indicator. Complexity of care needs was measured with the Intermed for the Elderly Self-Assessment. Quality of life (QoL) was measured with two items of the RAND-36. RESULTS: In total, 758 out of 1,150 (65.9%) patients were frail, 8.3% had complex care needs, and the mean QoL score was 7.1 (standard deviation 1.2). Correlations between frailty and complexity, frailty and QoL, and complexity of care and QoL were 0.67, -0.51 and -0.52 (all p<0.001) respectively. All patients with complex care needs were frail, but, only 12.5% of the frail patients had complex care needs. Problems at climbing up stairs was associated with higher levels of frailty and complexity of care but with a lower QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of frailty and complexity of care are associated with a lower QoL in multi-morbid older people. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding these concepts and are valuable for the development of tailored interventions for older persons in the future.
Authors: Kim de Nooijer; Nele Van Den Noortgate; Peter Pype; Lieve Van den Block; Lara Pivodic Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2022-10-06 Impact factor: 3.113