Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD

Introduction: Frailty likely contributes to disproportionate health care utilization among people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and undergoing hemodialysis (HD); but this is poorly captured in nephrology clinical and research practice. We examined Fried frailty phenotype among participant...

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Main Authors: Alice L. Kennard, Alice M. Richardson, Suzanne Rainsford, Kelly L. Hamilton, Nicholas J. Glasgow, Kate L. Pumpa, Angela M. Douglas, Girish S. Talaulikar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Kidney International Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925001755
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author Alice L. Kennard
Alice M. Richardson
Suzanne Rainsford
Kelly L. Hamilton
Nicholas J. Glasgow
Kate L. Pumpa
Angela M. Douglas
Girish S. Talaulikar
author_facet Alice L. Kennard
Alice M. Richardson
Suzanne Rainsford
Kelly L. Hamilton
Nicholas J. Glasgow
Kate L. Pumpa
Angela M. Douglas
Girish S. Talaulikar
author_sort Alice L. Kennard
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Frailty likely contributes to disproportionate health care utilization among people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and undergoing hemodialysis (HD); but this is poorly captured in nephrology clinical and research practice. We examined Fried frailty phenotype among participants with CKD or on HD and explored associations with health care utilization. We examined frailty transitions in relation to hospitalization. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational single-center study of patients with advanced CKD or undergoing HD. Frailty was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Demographic and clinical data, including comorbid burden, disability, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Data linkage with tertiary hospital captured emergency department (ED) presentations, hospital admissions, and days of hospital stay, excluding admissions for maintenance HD. Negative binomial regression was used to model health care utilization patterns. Frailty progression over study follow-up was described using Cox proportional hazards modelling. Results: Among 256 participants, frailty (36.3%) and prefrailty (46.5%) were highly prevalent. Frailty independently predicted ED presentation (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.43), hospitalization (IRR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08–1.37), and total days of hospitalization (IRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06–1.57) independent of demographics, comorbidity, disability, and inflammation. The median occurrence of hospitalization events was 152 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 44–251) after enrolment, suggesting a window of opportunity where frailty recognition might prompt targeted intervention to prevent frailty-related sequelae. Frailty was highly dynamic; frailty progression was not associated with hospitalization or length of stay. Conclusion: Frailty is a major contributor to excess health care utilization among people with kidney disease. Recognition of the prognostic implications of frailty might allow timely introduction of interventions to improve patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-72649ee5827e4d94a88b31e3f6e8f9952025-08-20T03:46:58ZengElsevierKidney International Reports2468-02492025-06-011061694171010.1016/j.ekir.2025.03.032Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKDAlice L. Kennard0Alice M. Richardson1Suzanne Rainsford2Kelly L. Hamilton3Nicholas J. Glasgow4Kate L. Pumpa5Angela M. Douglas6Girish S. Talaulikar7College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, Australia; Correspondence: Alice Kennard, Department of Renal Medicine, Canberra Health Services Building 15, Yamba Drive, Garran ACT 2605, Australia.Statistical Support Network, Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaCollege of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaDepartment of Renal Medicine, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, AustraliaCollege of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, AustraliaSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, AustraliaDiscipline of Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, AustraliaCollege of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, AustraliaIntroduction: Frailty likely contributes to disproportionate health care utilization among people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and undergoing hemodialysis (HD); but this is poorly captured in nephrology clinical and research practice. We examined Fried frailty phenotype among participants with CKD or on HD and explored associations with health care utilization. We examined frailty transitions in relation to hospitalization. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational single-center study of patients with advanced CKD or undergoing HD. Frailty was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Demographic and clinical data, including comorbid burden, disability, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Data linkage with tertiary hospital captured emergency department (ED) presentations, hospital admissions, and days of hospital stay, excluding admissions for maintenance HD. Negative binomial regression was used to model health care utilization patterns. Frailty progression over study follow-up was described using Cox proportional hazards modelling. Results: Among 256 participants, frailty (36.3%) and prefrailty (46.5%) were highly prevalent. Frailty independently predicted ED presentation (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.43), hospitalization (IRR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08–1.37), and total days of hospitalization (IRR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06–1.57) independent of demographics, comorbidity, disability, and inflammation. The median occurrence of hospitalization events was 152 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 44–251) after enrolment, suggesting a window of opportunity where frailty recognition might prompt targeted intervention to prevent frailty-related sequelae. Frailty was highly dynamic; frailty progression was not associated with hospitalization or length of stay. Conclusion: Frailty is a major contributor to excess health care utilization among people with kidney disease. Recognition of the prognostic implications of frailty might allow timely introduction of interventions to improve patient outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925001755chronic kidney diseasefrailtyhemodialysishealth care utilizationhospitalization
spellingShingle Alice L. Kennard
Alice M. Richardson
Suzanne Rainsford
Kelly L. Hamilton
Nicholas J. Glasgow
Kate L. Pumpa
Angela M. Douglas
Girish S. Talaulikar
Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
Kidney International Reports
chronic kidney disease
frailty
hemodialysis
health care utilization
hospitalization
title Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
title_full Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
title_fullStr Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
title_full_unstemmed Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
title_short Prospective Study of the Association Between Frailty and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Advanced CKD
title_sort prospective study of the association between frailty and health care utilization in patients with advanced ckd
topic chronic kidney disease
frailty
hemodialysis
health care utilization
hospitalization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468024925001755
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