Feasibility of Virtual Assessment of Physical Frailty in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Single Center, Observational Study

Manoela de Paula Ferreira; Noori Chowdhury; Lisa Wickerson; Heather Ross; Nazia Selzner; S Joseph Kim; Lianne G Singer; Sunita Mathur

doi:10.5195/ijt.2022.6447

Feasibility of Virtual Assessment of Physical Frailty in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Single Center, Observational Study

Int J Telerehabil. 2022 Jun 3;14(1):e6447. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2022.6447. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Manoela de Paula Ferreira¹, Noori Chowdhury², Lisa Wickerson^{1

2}, Heather Ross², Nazia Selzner², S Joseph Kim^{2

3}, Lianne G Singer^{2

4}, Sunita Mathur^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Medicine, Nephrology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Medicine, Respirology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the feasibility of virtual assessments of physical frailty in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients using a modified Fried Frailty Index (mFFI) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and to describe the prevalence of frailty 12-months post-transplant using virtual assessment.

Methods: Virtual assessments were performed using an e-questionnaire and a video-call for functional tests. Feasibility variables included: internet quality, video-call duration, presence of a companion, and adverse events.

Results: 34 SOT recipients, median age 62 (46-67), 76% lung recipients, 47% female, were included. The video-call had a median duration of 12 minutes (10-15 min), without adverse events. A companion was present in 23 (68%) video-call assessments. Fifteen SOT recipients (44%) were classified as pre-frail by the mFFI, and none were frail. Three participants (8.8%) were classified as frail using the SPPB.

Conclusion: Virtual frailty assessments can be used as an alternative to in-person assessments in SOT recipients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Frailty; Telehealth; Transplantation.