Relevance of frailty and functional limitations in elderly patients treated with noninvasive ventilation in the ED

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure are highly prevalent among older patients [1], and, together with pneumonia, are among the leading causes of acute respiratory failure (ARF) requiring urgent medical care and noninvasive ventilation (NIV). In clinical practice, age and pathophysiological parameters are usually taken into account for outcome prediction [2]. Still, this approach could not be satisfactory in older patients whose prognosis might better be evaluated through a more comprehensive one [3], including formal evaluation of frailty and functional autonomy.
Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Source Type: research