Trauma Specific Frailty Index (TSFI)

Multi-Institutional Validation of Trauma Specific Frailty Index

Increasing age is a known predictor of morbidity and mortality after a traumatic injury with worst outcomes seen in patients with age greater than 65 years. Geriatric trauma patients are a unique cohort of patients who are highly prone to develop decompensated state following the stress of traumatic event leading to adverse outcomes. In a prospective study the primary site demonstrated the presence of frailty syndrome as a better predictor of in-hospital complications and adverse discharge disposition among geriatric trauma patients than age. Presently, Methodist Dallas Medical Center aims to participate in the large scale prospective multi-institutional validation of TSFI to assess the sensitivity and specificity of Trauma Specific Frailty Index in predicting adverse outcomes through a diverse account utilizing multiple facilities.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Physical Trauma
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Trauma Specific Frailty Index Questionnaire

Detailed Description

In the U.S, the geriatric population is the fastest growing age group. By the end of next decade, it will comprise about 20% of the total population. Frailty is a major health burden in older people. It is defined as a condition of reduced resistance to stressors, due to a decline in physiological reserves. Multiple studies have shown that frailty is associated with adverse health outcomes, such as mortality, in-hospital complications, readmissions, and adverse discharge disposition. The concept of frailty and frailty index has been implemented widely across surgical specialties to predict post-operative outcomes and mortality in aging patients.

Increasing age is a known predictor of morbidity and mortality after a traumatic injury with worst outcomes seen in patients with age greater than 65 years. Geriatric trauma patients are a unique cohort of patients who are highly prone to develop decompensated state following the stress of traumatic event leading to adverse outcomes. In a prospective study the primary site demonstrated the presence of frailty syndrome as a better predictor of in-hospital complications and adverse discharge disposition among geriatric trauma patients than age. Most of the frailty scales that exist are extensive and time consuming and their implementation in geriatric trauma patient is not feasible. To facilitate the clinical implementation of frailty in trauma Belal et al. developed the Trauma Specific Frailty Index (TSFI), which consists of 15 variables that can reliably predict the presence of frailty and pre-frailty syndrome in geriatric trauma patients. This index was based on the Rockwood CSHA frailty, which is based on deficit accumulation. In the prospective validation study of our TSFI, the 15-variable TSFI was an independent predictor adverse discharge disposition (i.e. mortality or discharge to skilled nursing facility) in geriatric trauma patients as well as adverse complications and failure to rescue. Presently, Methodist Dallas Medical Center aims to participate in the large scale prospective multi-institutional validation of TSFI.

In this prospective observational study, MDMC will participate as a site contributing to the multi-center study under the direction of Dr. Bellal at the University of Arizona. At our site, Dr. Amos will serve as site-PI.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 500

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75203
      • Methodist Dallas Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All patients ≥65 years of age who admitted with a diagnosis of physical trauma between August 2019 through August 2020.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥65 years
• Diagnosis of physical trauma

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal of consent.
• Non-responsive patients who are unable to consent with no relative/proxy available to consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mortality	death of the participant	August 2019 through August 2020
complications	complications associated with treatment	August 2019 through August 2020

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Methodist Health System
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joseph D Amos, MD, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 20, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 16, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 16, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 12, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 2, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2026
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: geriatric
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Wounds and Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 048.TRA.2019.D

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No