Method:

A sample of patients over the age of 65 was collected at the emergency room. A descriptive study was carried out in which, among other sociode-mographic variables, the BI was collected. A descriptive study was conducted that included the IB as one of other socio-demographic and clinical variables. The number of hospitalizations, readmissions to the emergency department (ED), and whether the patient died during that period were collected over nine months.

Results:

The total number of patients was 591. 17.4% died by the end of monitoring 41.9% of the sample returned to the ED at least once and 48.9% were hospitalized at least once during that period. 40.9% of the sample were independent and 27.3% had severe or total dependence, according to the IB. Statistical significance was found between IB and mortality at 3, 6 and 9 months. Patients with Barthel 60 had 3.55 (2.40, 5.23) times more risk of mortality than patients with >60.

Conclusions:

IB is associated to mortality and hospitalization at shortterm. It is proposed to implement the use of IB as a fragility prediction tool in ED, provided by nursing professionals to patients over the age of 65.

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