Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted frail individuals, highlighting the urgent need for effective prognostic tools to improve patient outcomes. Early identification of at-risk individuals can optimize management and resource allocation, reducing mortality and morbidity....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elda De Vita, Nicola Veronese, Giacomo Guido, Luisa Frallonardo, Sergio Cotugno, Giorgia Manco Cesari, Marinella Cibelli, Alessandra Vigna, Davide Capruzzi, Monica Fiorella, Carmen Rita Santoro, Gaetano Brindicci, Francesco Di Gennaro, Annalisa Saracino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1591767/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849416964257087488
author Elda De Vita
Nicola Veronese
Giacomo Guido
Luisa Frallonardo
Sergio Cotugno
Giorgia Manco Cesari
Marinella Cibelli
Alessandra Vigna
Davide Capruzzi
Monica Fiorella
Carmen Rita Santoro
Gaetano Brindicci
Francesco Di Gennaro
Annalisa Saracino
author_facet Elda De Vita
Nicola Veronese
Giacomo Guido
Luisa Frallonardo
Sergio Cotugno
Giorgia Manco Cesari
Marinella Cibelli
Alessandra Vigna
Davide Capruzzi
Monica Fiorella
Carmen Rita Santoro
Gaetano Brindicci
Francesco Di Gennaro
Annalisa Saracino
author_sort Elda De Vita
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted frail individuals, highlighting the urgent need for effective prognostic tools to improve patient outcomes. Early identification of at-risk individuals can optimize management and resource allocation, reducing mortality and morbidity. This study evaluates the Frailty Index-Laboratory (FI-LAB) as a predictor of mortality in COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe included all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the “Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Bari” from March 2020 to February 2024. FI-LAB scores were calculated using 37 laboratory parameters obtained within the first 4 days of hospitalization. Mortality data were collected up to 90 days post-admission. Cox regression analysis, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccination status, was employed to examine the relationship between FI-LAB scores and mortality.ResultsOne thousand, four hundred ninety-two patients were included in the study population, the mean age was 57.2 years (SD = 15.9), with 56.6% being male. Patients in the highest FI-LAB tertile (>0.432) exhibited a 17.10-fold higher risk of death compared to those in the lowest tertile (<0.135), same result has been shown in the intermediate FI-LAB scores (0.135–0.432) when compared to the lowest tertile. Additionally, each 0.10-point increase in FI-LAB was linked to a nearly twofold increase in mortality hazard (HR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.69–2.37, p < 0.0001).ConclusionFrailty Index-Laboratory is a robust and practical tool for predicting mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, aiding early identification of high-risk individuals. Implementing FI-LAB enhances patient management and resource allocation. Further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness across diverse populations and healthcare settings.
format Article
id doaj-art-4354b8e056734bc0897fbc7fc1763cec
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-2565
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Public Health
spelling doaj-art-4354b8e056734bc0897fbc7fc1763cec2025-08-20T03:32:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15917671591767Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective studyElda De Vita0Nicola Veronese1Giacomo Guido2Luisa Frallonardo3Sergio Cotugno4Giorgia Manco Cesari5Marinella Cibelli6Alessandra Vigna7Davide Capruzzi8Monica Fiorella9Carmen Rita Santoro10Gaetano Brindicci11Francesco Di Gennaro12Annalisa Saracino13Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyDepartment of Health Promotion, Mother Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area - (DiMePRe-J), University of “Aldo Moro”, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, ItalyIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted frail individuals, highlighting the urgent need for effective prognostic tools to improve patient outcomes. Early identification of at-risk individuals can optimize management and resource allocation, reducing mortality and morbidity. This study evaluates the Frailty Index-Laboratory (FI-LAB) as a predictor of mortality in COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe included all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the “Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Bari” from March 2020 to February 2024. FI-LAB scores were calculated using 37 laboratory parameters obtained within the first 4 days of hospitalization. Mortality data were collected up to 90 days post-admission. Cox regression analysis, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 symptoms, and vaccination status, was employed to examine the relationship between FI-LAB scores and mortality.ResultsOne thousand, four hundred ninety-two patients were included in the study population, the mean age was 57.2 years (SD = 15.9), with 56.6% being male. Patients in the highest FI-LAB tertile (>0.432) exhibited a 17.10-fold higher risk of death compared to those in the lowest tertile (<0.135), same result has been shown in the intermediate FI-LAB scores (0.135–0.432) when compared to the lowest tertile. Additionally, each 0.10-point increase in FI-LAB was linked to a nearly twofold increase in mortality hazard (HR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.69–2.37, p < 0.0001).ConclusionFrailty Index-Laboratory is a robust and practical tool for predicting mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, aiding early identification of high-risk individuals. Implementing FI-LAB enhances patient management and resource allocation. Further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness across diverse populations and healthcare settings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1591767/fullfrailtyFrailty Index-LaboratoryagingCOVID-19mortality
spellingShingle Elda De Vita
Nicola Veronese
Giacomo Guido
Luisa Frallonardo
Sergio Cotugno
Giorgia Manco Cesari
Marinella Cibelli
Alessandra Vigna
Davide Capruzzi
Monica Fiorella
Carmen Rita Santoro
Gaetano Brindicci
Francesco Di Gennaro
Annalisa Saracino
Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
Frontiers in Public Health
frailty
Frailty Index-Laboratory
aging
COVID-19
mortality
title Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
title_full Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
title_fullStr Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
title_full_unstemmed Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
title_short Role of Frailty Index-Laboratory to predict COVID-19 mortality: a prospective study
title_sort role of frailty index laboratory to predict covid 19 mortality a prospective study
topic frailty
Frailty Index-Laboratory
aging
COVID-19
mortality
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1591767/full
work_keys_str_mv AT eldadevita roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT nicolaveronese roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT giacomoguido roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT luisafrallonardo roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT sergiocotugno roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT giorgiamancocesari roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT marinellacibelli roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT alessandravigna roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT davidecapruzzi roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT monicafiorella roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT carmenritasantoro roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT gaetanobrindicci roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT francescodigennaro roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy
AT annalisasaracino roleoffrailtyindexlaboratorytopredictcovid19mortalityaprospectivestudy