Key result
Frailty is highly prevalent in acute stroke and linked to worse outcomes, supporting frailty-informed care.
Why the study?
Although frailty is prevalent in stroke and associated with poor outcomes, it does not feature prominently in stroke research, practice, or policy.
Frailty is a common and prognostically significant syndrome in acute stroke that requires routine assessment and tailored, person-centered management.
May support frailty screening in acute stroke; leaves open whether interventions improve outcomes in trials.
Stroke is predominantly a condition of older age. So, it seems sensible that specialists working in stroke services should understand the primary clinical syndrome of ageing-frailty. Recent studies have highlighted the prevalence of frailty in stroke and its associated poor outcomes, yet frailty does not feature prominently in stroke research, practice or policy. Frailty-informed stroke care may differ from the interventional management that dominates contemporary practice. However, this is not therapeutic nihilism. A person-centred approach ensures that every care decision is appropriate and based on a shared understanding of the person's goals and likely prognosis. We present a primer on frailty in stroke, describing definition(s), epidemiology and prognostic implications. We discuss the challenges surrounding assessment and management of frailty in stroke units and offer practical guidance suitable for the stroke clinician.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Naeem et al. (2024) conducted a review in Stroke and Frailty. Frailty vs. Robust/Non-frail was evaluated. Frailty is highly prevalent in acute stroke and is associated with significantly poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for frailty-informed, person-centered stroke care and shared decision-making.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: