How frailty affects outcomes in older people with pneumonia in the ER
Impact of Clinical Frailty Scale on Morbidity and Mortality in Older Adults Diagnosed With Pneumonia in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study
This study will test whether a quick bedside frailty score (the Clinical Frailty Scale) can help predict short-term death and serious complications in people aged 65 and older who come to the emergency department with pneumonia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ege University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Izmir, Bornova) |
| Trial ID | NCT07442656 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a single-center prospective observational cohort enrolling consecutive patients aged 65 and older who present to a tertiary university emergency department with clinical and radiological pneumonia. Investigators will record demographics, comorbidities, vital signs, and standard pneumonia severity scores (PSI, CURB-65) at presentation and will rate baseline frailty using the 9-point Clinical Frailty Scale at the bedside. Primary outcomes are in-hospital and 30-day mortality, with secondary outcomes including ICU admission and need for mechanical ventilation. The analysis will test whether adding the CFS to existing severity scores improves prognostic accuracy for these outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: People aged 65 or older who present to the emergency department with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of pneumonia and who can provide consent or have a caregiver able to describe their usual functional status.
Not a fit: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia, those arriving in cardiopulmonary arrest, or those without an informant to provide baseline functional history are excluded and therefore unlikely to benefit from this study's findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, incorporating a quick frailty check could improve risk prediction and help clinicians make better decisions about admission level, monitoring, and treatment for older patients with pneumonia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior observational studies have shown that frailty measures like the CFS independently predict mortality and adverse outcomes in older emergency populations, but integration with pneumonia severity scores has limited prospective validation.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥65 years * Clinical and radiological diagnosis of pneumonia in the emergency department * Ability to obtain informed consent from the patient or legal representative * Availability of a caregiver or relative able to describe baseline functional status Exclusion Criteria: * Presentation with cardiopulmonary arrest or ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation at admission * Confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia * Inability to obtain reliable baseline functional history due to absence of an informant * Refusal to provide informed consent
Where this trial is running
Izmir, Bornova
- Özge Can — Izmir, Bornova, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Özlem İnci, MD
- Email: ozge.can@ege.edu.tr
- Phone: 902323902321
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.