Электронный научный журнал

Individuals aged 65 years and older are often more vulnerable to acute injuries, have a higher risk of falls, increased likelihood of polypharmacy and adverse drug interactions, and are characterized by multimorbidity. Acute conditions in this population frequently present with non-specific symptoms. It is important to note that emergency departments often serve as the first point of contact for elderly patients. In many countries, including Russia, there is no clear decision-making algorithm for managing emergency conditions in elderly and senile patients, which leads to higher risks of at-home mortality and repeated hospitalizations in this age group. The aim of the study was to optimize management tactics for elderly and senile patients with emergency conditions in outpatient settings through the use of a rapid screening questionnaire for frailty syndrome. The study included 333 patients aged 65 to 90 years who sought care at an outpatient emergency department. Of these, 234 patients were screened for frailty syndrome using the rapid questionnaire «Validated Index for Identifying Frailty Syndrome in the Outpatient Emergency Department». Clinical manifestations of acute functional decline in elderly and senile patients with emergency conditions were analyzed, along with subsequent patient routing depending on the presence of frailty syndrome. Screening for frailty syndrome in elderly and senile patients with emergency conditions using the rapid questionnaire made it possible to reduce the number of repeat visits and at-home mortality, and to increase the proportion of patients placed under follow-up by primary care services. Patients who underwent frailty screening demonstrated significantly more favorable outcomes compared to those who did not receive rapid assessment. Timely and accurate identification of frailty syndrome in elderly and senile patients with emergency conditions in outpatient settings improves clinical outcomes by enabling the selection of optimal patient routing strategies, including hospitalization, referral to a primary care physician or geriatrician, and involvement of social services.