Postdischarge Geriatric Assessment of Hospitalized Frail Elderly Patients

Reports on a randomized trial of comprehensive geriatric assessment intervention for frail older patients that is started before hospital discharge and is continued at home. No differences were observed between the two treatment groups in survival, hospital readmission, or nursing home placement by 60 days. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, no significant differences were observed between the two groups on measures of physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations, health perceptions, pain, mental health, energy and/or fatigue, health change, or overall well-being. Although efficacy has been demonstrated for some forms of comprehensive geriatric assessment, the types of services that are easier to establish (inpatient consultation services and ambulatory assessment) have not been shown to improve outcomes. These results indicate that outcomes are unaffected by limited comprehensive geriatric assessment begun in the hospital and completed at home.