Frailty and risk of re-hospitalisation and mortality for aged care residents following a fall injury hospitalisation

Objectives To examine the role of frailty in risk of re-hospitalisation and mortality for aged care residents following a fall injury hospitalisation. Methods Retrospective analysis of linked hospitalisation and aged care data of adults aged >= 65 years residing in aged care. A semi-competing risk analysis examined risk of hospital readmission. Results Residents who had intermediate or high frailty, who were aged 70-79 or 80-89 years, who had 1-2 or >= 3 comorbidities, sustained a hip fracture, and who had either low, moderate or high complex health-care requirements had a higher risk of being readmitted to hospital. Frailty was not associated with mortality for those with no hospital readmission or mortality after readmission. Conclusions Frailty is an important prognostic factor associated with readmission for residents of aged care hospitalised for a fall injury. Frailty screening could assist to identify people at a high risk of re-hospitalisation following a fall injury.