The Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinimetric Properties of Screening Instruments to Identify Frail Older Adults Attending Emergency Departments: A Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Elizabeth Moloney, Duygu Sezgin, Mark O’Donovan, Kadjo Yves Cedric Adja, Keith McGrath, Aaron Liew, Jacopo Lenzi, Davide Gori, Kieran O’Connor, David William Molloy, Evelyn Flanagan, Darren McLoughlin, Maria Pia Fantini, Suzanne Timmons and Rónán O’Caoimh
Additional contact information
Elizabeth Moloney: Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Duygu Sezgin: School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, National University of Ireland, H92 N2R2 Galway, Ireland
Mark O’Donovan: Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Kadjo Yves Cedric Adja: Department of Biomedical & Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Keith McGrath: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Aaron Liew: Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Jacopo Lenzi: Department of Biomedical & Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Davide Gori: Department of Biomedical & Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Kieran O’Connor: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
David William Molloy: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Evelyn Flanagan: Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Darren McLoughlin: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Maria Pia Fantini: Department of Biomedical & Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Suzanne Timmons: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University College Cork, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland
Rónán O’Caoimh: Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork, Ireland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Prompt and efficient identification and stratification of patients who are frail is important, as this cohort are at high risk of adverse healthcare outcomes. Numerous frailty screening tools have been developed to support their identification across different settings, yet relatively few have emerged for use in emergency departments (EDs). This protocol provides details for a systematic review aiming to synthesize the accumulated evidence regarding the diagnostic accuracy and clinimetric properties of frailty screening instruments to identify frail older adults in EDs. Methods: Six electronic databases will be searched from January 2000 to March 2021. Eligible studies will include adults aged ≥60 years screened in EDs with any available screening instrument to identify frailty (even if not originally designed for this purpose). Studies, including case-control, longitudinal, and cohort studies, will be included, where instruments are compared to a reference standard to explore diagnostic accuracy. Predictive accuracy for a selection of outcomes, including mortality, institutionalization, and readmission, will be assessed. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity will be examined, and a random effects meta-analysis performed if appropriate. Conclusion: Understanding whether frailty screening on presentation to EDs is accurate in identifying frailty, and predicting these outcomes is important for decision-making and targeting appropriate management.

Keywords: frailty; frailty screening tools; emergency department; older adult; systematic review; diagnostic accuracy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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