The Multidimensional Prognostic Index in general practice: One‐year follow‐up study

Background Older patients’ health problems in general practice (GP) can often not be assigned to a specific disease, requiring a paradigm shift to goal‐oriented, personalised care for clinical decision making. Purpose To investigate the predictive value of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA)‐based Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) in a GP setting with respect to the main healthcare indicators during the 12 months following initial evaluation. Methods One hundred twenty‐five consecutive patients aged 70 years and older were enrolled in a GP and followed up to one year. All patients underwent a CGA based on which the MPI was calculated and subdivided into three risk groups (MPI‐1, 0‐0.33 = low risk, MPI‐2, 0.34‐0.66 = moderate risk and MPI‐3, 0.67‐1, severe risk). Grade of Care (GC), hospitalization rate, mortality, nursing home admission, use of home care services, falls, number of general practitioner contacts (GPC), of geriatric resources (GR) and geriatric syndromes (GS) during the 12 months following initial evaluation were collected. Results The MPI was significantly associated with number of GS (P