Relationship between Frailty Syndrome and Quality of Life in the Elderly Referred to Emergency Departments

Frailty syndrome is one of the most common syndromes in old age that is associated with adverse health outcomes such as weakness, decreased performance and reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between frailty syndrome and quality of life in the elderly referred to the emergency departments of Ardabil teaching hospitals in 2020.

In this descriptive-analytical study, 493 elderly people referred to the emergency department were selected by convenience sampling method. The SF12 questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life and the Fried indices were used to assess the frailty syndrome. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance, chi-square and multiple regression) using SPSS-22 software.

The results showed that 209 (42.4%) elderly had average quality of life. 202 patients (41%) had frailty and 172 patients (34.9%) had pre frailty. The results of Chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between frailty and quality of life. Linear regression analysis showed the variables of age, marital status, fall, family composition and frailty syndrome as predictors of quality of life in the elderly referred to the emergency department.

Frailty is associated with decreased quality of life in the elderly. Early detection of the elderly at risk of frailty and appropriate intervention in this field can prevent the decline in quality of life in the elderly.