(Ongoing) Intrinsic Capacity Risk Evaluation – Towards Holistic Assessment and Targeted Management of Elderly in Acute Care (I-CREATE)

Age Well SG strand: Strengthen support for seniors with care needs in the community

Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Laura Tay (Lead Scientist, GERI; Head and Senior Consultant, Geriatric Medicine, Sengkang General Hospital (SKH))

Collaborating Organisation(s): SKH

Gap: In an earlier study, depression and malnutrition (which fall under the psychological and vitality domains of intrinsic capacity) were identified to be associated with risk for hospital readmission among older adults. The World Health Organization Integrated Care for Older People (WHO ICOPE) screening tool could potentially be used to guide and facilitate holistic assessment and interventions for hospitalised older adults to prevent poor health outcomes. More research is required for a proof of concept on the use of the WHO ICOPE tool contextualised to an acute care setting.

Planned Solution: The I-CREATE study will examine the effect of intrinsic capacity assessment and targeted interventions that address identified domain losses on 30-day readmission rates in older adults admitted to the General Medical department of a single restructured hospital. The intervention is modelled after Steps 1 and 2 of the WHO ICOPE tool, but is tailored specifically to address needs in the acute care setting and support physicians in the holistic management of hospitalised older adults.

Anticipated Impact: The findings of this study have the potential to be adopted as standard care in SKH inpatient General Medicine wards, and subsequently, be potentially scaled up across SingHealth institutions. In addition, the intervention may highlight the importance of intrinsic capacity in the healthcare system in Singapore and enable non-geriatricians to provide better care for older adults. Findings will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and presentations to funders and collaborators, with journal publications planned.

Duration: Jan 2023 to Mar 2026