Feasibility of an intensive care unit-adapted geriatric assessment protocol in older adults in the Colombian Andes

Abstract Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is considered the gold standard for evaluating older adults; however, its implementation in intensive care units (ICUs) remains challenging because of the acute nature of critical illness and operational constraints. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of implementing an ICU-adapted geriatric assessment protocol based on selected CGA domains in older adults admitted to a tertiary ICU in the Colombian Andes. Patients aged ≥ 60 years admitted between April and June 2023 were assessed for functional dependence, cognition, frailty, nutritional risk, and multimorbidity alongside routine clinical variables. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, protocol adherence, retention, completeness of data collection, and assessment time. During the 9-week study period, 68 eligible patients were admitted, 55 were screened (80.9%), and 40 were enrolled, with a consent rate of 90.9%. Retention was 100% during ICU stay and 92.5% at 30-day follow-up. Protocol completion reached 60%, with missing data mainly related to laboratory variables. The median assessment time was 16.5 min, whereas follow-up required 5 min. Sedation, fatigue, and cognitive impairment frequently required proxy respondents and informed protocol refinement. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of implementing an ICU-adapted geriatric assessment protocol and provide methodological data to support future multicenter studies.