Frailty in older Australians is imposing a staggering burden on Australia's healthcare system and driving up costs in community aged-care, new research by Flinders University has revealed.
Published in the journal Geriatrics & Gerontology International, the study found frailty significantly increases healthcare costs due to higher service usage, frequent hospitalisations, and extended recovery periods, highlighting an urgent need for targeted interventions to curb this escalating crisis.
"As Australia's population ages, the costs associated with frailty are set to climb, making it critical to address this issue now," says lead author Barbara Toson, a biostatistician in Flinders' College of Medicine and Public Health.
"This study is one of the first to focus on the economic impact of frailty from the healthcare system's perspective, offering key insights that could drive more effective and sustainable care strategies."
Using data from the Registry of Senior Australians, the researchers compared frail and non-frail individuals on both their outcomes and economic costs, finding the healthcare costs for older adults with frailty were significantly higher.
Over a three-year period, total healthcare costs for 39,363 frail individuals, identified during their first aged care assessment in 2013, were estimated at $1.28 billion, compared to $885 million if they had not been frail.
This resulted in an estimated annual excess cost of $130.8 million to overall healthcare expenditures for the Australian government, primarily driven by hospital admissions.
Frail individuals were also 76 percent more likely to die and 73 percent more likely to enter permanent residential aged care, compared to non-frail individuals.
"The cost difference between frail and non-frail individuals is stark, and it shows just how critical it is to prioritize health interventions that can mitigate the progression to frailty," says senior author Professor Jon Karnon, a health economist in Flinders' College of Medicine and Public Health.
"If we do nothing, we risk overwhelming the healthcare system with preventable costs that could be managed through more proactive care."
The authors say the findings highlight the need for more investment in frailty prevention programs and a fresh look at healthcare policies to better manage the needs of an aging population.
"Currently frailty is not systematically assessed in the general older population but is captured during comprehensive aged care assessments conducted by government-funded Aged Care Assessment Teams (ACATs)," says Professor Karnon.
"We need more investment in frailty prevention programs and healthcare policies that better manage the needs of an aging population.
"There is evidence that interventions such as physical exercise, nutrition, and multidisciplinary care services in primary care settings can help prevent and manage frailty, but they are not yet standard practice."
The authors stress that as Australia's population ages, the prevalence of frailty is expected to rise significantly.
"11 percent of older adults in Australia were considered frail in 2016, and this number is projected to increase to 16 percent by 2027," says Ms Toson.
"With more older Australians living longer with complex health needs, the strain on healthcare resources will continue to grow.
"Frailty isn't just a health issue; it's a significant economic challenge for our healthcare system. By investing in early screening and interventions, we can not only improve the quality of life for older adults but also help ease the financial burden on our healthcare services."
The paper 'Economic burden of frailty in older adults accessing community-based aged care services in Australia' by Barbara Toson, Laura Catherine Edney, Hossein Haji Ali Afzali, Renuka Visvanathan, Jyoti Khadka and Jonathan Karnon is published in the journal Geriatrics & Gerontology International. DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14955. The study was funded by the Flinders Foundation through a Health Seed Grant.
