Evaluation of the trauma-specific frailty index in geriatric trauma patients according to the new World Health Organization age classification.

Objective: We compared the 15-variable trauma-specific frailty index and traditional injury scoring systems to determine trauma severity and predict discharge disposition in geriatric trauma patients based on the old and new World Health Organization age classifications.

Methods: This prospective, observational, single-center study included geriatric patients aged ≥65 years with blunt trauma. We categorized patients as elderly based on the old or new World Health Organization age classification into group I (aged 65-79 years) and group II (aged ≥a80 years), respectively. At admission, we used traditional injury scoring systems (e.g., the Glasgow coma scale, injury severity score, and revised trauma score) to determine trauma severity. We compared the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index and traditional injury scoring systems between the patient groups and evaluated them for correlations.

Results: We included 169 geriatric patients (80 and 89 in groups I and II, respectively). The mean Trauma-Specific Frailty Index score was significantly higher among females than males (p=0.025) and group II than group I (p=0.021). No significant correlations were observed in terms of the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index and traditional injury scoring systems in both groups. The mean Trauma-Specific Frailty Index score was significantly different between the hospitalized and discharged patients in group I (p=0.005), but not in group II (p=0.526).

Conclusion: The 15-variable Trauma-Specific Frailty Index score is superior to traditional injury scoring systems for managing and predicting discharge disposition in geriatric trauma patients aged 65-79 years.