Impact of Frailty on Inpatient Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients: Evidence From a US National Inpatient Sample

Introduction: The global impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been profound, claiming the lives of more than 3 million individuals within a year and a half. Among the affected population, heightened vulnerability is observed among older and frailer individuals, leading to more severe symptoms and adverse outcomes compared to their younger, non-frail counterparts. This study to analyze the impact of frailty on the outcomes of adult patients admitted with COVID-19. Methods: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database 2020, we identified adult patients admitted with a principal diagnosis of COVID-19. The patients were then divided into two groups, i.e., frail and non-frail, based on the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) cut-off of 5. Using a multivariate regression model, we compared COVID-19 hospitalizations, with frailty status serving as the exposure variable. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 14.2. Results: Out of 1,050,045 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 509,915 (48.56%) met the criteria for frailty. Among these frail patients, the majority were white, older females with a high comorbidity burden. Compared to their non-frail counterparts, these frail patients experienced greater odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.78–4.23;P. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings highlight a complex interplay between COVID-19 and frailty, revealing that frailty is associated with increased odds of mortality as well as associated complications. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical complexities surrounding COVID-19 in frail patients, necessitating tailored management strategies.