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Purpose of the study The prevalence of frailty is expected to increase worldwide in parallel with demographic ageing. Despite this, little is known about the prevalence in different populations particularly community-based samples. This cross-sectional study evaluates the prevalence of frailty in a community-dwelling older adult population and describes a methodology to plan community-based interventions. Methodology A random sample of 1331 older adults, resident in the Lazio-Region of Italy, were screened by trained public health nurses (PHNs) by administering a validated questionnaire (the Functional Geriatric Evaluation questionnaire). Prevalence of frailty was calculated using the Final Synthetic Score derived from the questionnaire’s Final Score. Variables associated with frailty were selected through univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Results Prevalence of frail (FS ≥ 10,≤50) and very frail (FS < 10) individuals was 13.9% and 7.6% respectively. Variables associated with frailty were age (older than 85 years), disability, living alone or the presence of a paid carer, lower education and neurological disorders like stroke, dementia, Parkinson disease and other neuropsychiatric diseases; Anaemia or cancer were also associated with a higher prevalence of frailty. Discussion The study provide a comprehensive picture of the prevalence of frailty and factors associated to this condition in community-dwelling older adults. On the basis of the study results, a plan of community-based services could address the needs of care of the elderly population. A trained team of PHNs may be the most appropriate personnel to carry out multidimensional frailty assessment in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To determine the trend of elderly hospitalization rates in Italy, following the economic rationalization of health systems in Western countries, and to evaluate which alternatives to acute hospitalization have been developed during the period 1996–2006 an ecological observational study has been carried out. Data from the Italian Hospital-Discharge Registries (HDRs) of the years 1996, 2001, and 2006 have been analyzed in order to assess the variations among the elderly in terms of hospitalization rates, hospital stay, and bed rates. The results were compared with nursing home admission rates and home care offer. Relations among these variables were explored by univariate and multivariate analyses. Elderly hospital admission rates decreased in Italy from 324.2/1000 in 1996, to 258.7 in 2006. Mean hospital stay of elderly patients was 9.4 days in 2006, 9.5 in 2001 and 10.1 in 1996. A multivariate linear regression model was statistically significant in explaining the variations in hospitalization rates (F: 5.68; p =0.004; R 2 =0.77). The main determinants linked to such variations were the bed rate (β =0.67; p =0.004) and the hospital length of stay (β =−0.77; p =0.03). The analysis showed a reduction in hospitalization rates among the elderly, which was not counterbalanced by an increased offer of home care and/or nursing home services, but was mainly linked to a decrease in the supply of acute beds, with possible consequences on the quality of health care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]