Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42103376›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Healthcare utilisation patterns among frail individuals aged 50+ years: results from the Lolland-Falster Population Study (LOFUS).

Katja Kemp Jacobsen, Mathilde Glud Christensen, Charlotte Nilsson, Randi Jepsen, Lau Thygesen, Charlotte Suetta, Ellen Astrid Holm

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Katja Kemp JacobsenDepartment for Clinical and Translational Research, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.
Mathilde Glud ChristensenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Section, Zealand University Hospital Koge, Køge, Region Zealand, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6724-4362
Charlotte NilssonDepartment of Public Health, Section of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.
Randi JepsenLolland-Falster Health Study, Zealand University Hospital Nykøbing F, Nykøbing Falster, Region Zealand, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0934-9850
Lau ThygesenNational Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8375-5211
Charlotte SuettaDepartment of clinical medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.
Ellen Astrid HolmDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric section, Zealand University Hospital Koge, Køge, Denmark ellh@regionsjaelland.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7600-6025

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesFrailty is a clinical syndrome characterised by impaired homeostatic mechanisms and reduced physiological reserve. Hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) are commonly used as indicators of quality in primary healthcare. We aimed to examine the association between frailty and the use of healthcare resources, including unplanned hospital visits due to ACSCs and non-ACSCs and visits to general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists (MSs) in primary care. We hypothesised that frail individuals would have similar odds of hospital visits due to ACSCs and non-ACSCs.

designRegistry-based epidemiological study.

settingData from the Danish Lolland-Falster Health Study and national health registers. Data were collected in a rural region of Denmark between February 2016 and February 2020.

participants10 154 randomly selected individuals aged ≥50 years participating in the Lolland-Falster Health Study with valid frailty measurements. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital visits due to any diagnosis, hospital visits due to ACSCs and non-ACSCs, and visits to GPs and MSs in the primary care sector.

resultsAfter adjustment for age, sex, comorbidity and socioeconomic factors, frail participants had higher odds of hospital visits due to any diagnosis (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.57; p=0.03). The odds of hospital visits due to ACSCs (OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.08; p=0.07) and non-ACSCs (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.47; p=0.22) were not significantly different. Frail individuals had higher odds of visiting their GP (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.46; p=0.047) but not a medical specialist (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.07; p=0.15).

conclusionsAmong frail individuals, the distinction between unplanned hospital visits due to ACSCs and non-ACSCs is not meaningful. This finding is consistent with the understanding of frailty as a state of reduced physiological reserve, in which minor stressors may lead to hospital care regardless of diagnostic category.

Indexed as

Ambulatory CareFrail ElderlyFrailtyHospitalizationPatient Acceptance of Health CarePrimary Health CareAgedAged, 80 and overDenmarkFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRegistriesFrail ElderlyGeneral PracticeGERIATRIC MEDICINEHospitalization

Identifiers

PMID42103376
PMCPMC13157799

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.