REStORing health of acutely unwell adulTs (RESORT) cohort study

Study Overview

Older adults admitted to hospital often present with complex and interrelated medical, functional, and psychosocial issues. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a standardized multidisciplinary approach, has been introduced at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Royal Park Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit to optimize care for geriatric inpatients. This study aims to evaluate and refine the CGA in a large cohort of patients and examine its impact on post-discharge outcomes.

Between October 2017 and March 2020, 1,890 geriatric inpatients admitted to the GEM Unit received CGA as part of routine care. The CGA includes assessments of physical function, cognition, mood, comorbidities, medications, nutrition, and social circumstances, conducted by physicians and allied health professionals. Patients also completed questionnaires on demographics, function, mood, mobility, and quality of life. Blood samples were collected and stored in a Research Biobank to support future studies on the biology of aging.

Three-month post-discharge follow-up evaluates the CGA’s effectiveness in improving health outcomes, including quality of life, independence, hospital readmissions, and survival. By identifying previously unrecognized issues, CGA aims to enhance clinical decision-making, symptom control, and patient-centered outcomes. Findings will inform optimization of assessments and therapies to improve geriatric care.