Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38900239›Full record

Observational studyInternal and emergency medicine2025

Assessing the utility of frailty scores in triage: a comparative study of validated scales.

Arian Zaboli, Francesco Brigo, Serena Sibilio, Gloria Brigiari, Magdalena Massar, Gabriele Magnarelli, Marta Parodi, Michael Mian, Norbert Pfeifer, Gianni Turcato

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Internal and emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Arian ZaboliInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy. zaboliarian@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-4204-8884
Francesco BrigoInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy.
Serena SibilioDepartment Public Health, Institute of Nursing Science, Universitat Basel, Basel, BS, Switzerland.
Gloria BrigiariUnit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Magdalena MassarInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy.
Gabriele MagnarelliDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of Merano-Meran (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
Marta ParodiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Alto Vicentino (AULSS-7), Santorso, Italy.
Michael MianInnovation, Research and Teaching Service (SABES-ASDAA), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Via A. Volta, 13°, Bolzano, Italy.
Norbert PfeiferDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of Merano-Meran (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy.
Gianni TurcatoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Intermediate Care Unit, Hospital Alto Vicentino (AULSS-7), Santorso, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Currently, there is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of frailty scales and their ability to enhance or support triage operations. This study aimed to assess the utility of three common frailty scales (CFS, PRISMA-7, ISAR) and determine their utility in the triage setting. This prospective observational monocentric study was conducted at Merano Hospital's Emergency Department (ED) from June 1st to December 31st, 2023. All patients attending this ED during the 80-day study period were included, and frailty scores were correlated with three outcomes: hospitalization, 30-day mortality, and severity of condition as assessed by ED physicians. Patients were categorized by age, and analyses were performed for the entire study population, patients aged 18-64, and those aged 65 or older. Univariate analysis was followed by multivariable analysis to evaluate whether frailty scores were independently associated with the outcomes. In multivariable analysis, none of the frailty scores were found to be associated with the study outcomes, except for the CFS, which was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality, with an odds ratio of 1.752 (95% CI 1.148-2.674; p = 0.009) in the general population and 1.708 (95% CI 1.044-2.793; p = 0.033) in the population aged ≥ 65. Presently, available frailty scores do not appear to be useful in the triage context. Future research should consider developing new systems for accurate frailty assessment to support risk prediction in the triage assessment.

Indexed as

FrailtyTriageAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesCFSClinical Frailty ScaleFrail patientsFrailtyISARPRISMA-7Triage

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.