PhenoAgeAccel predicted 30-day mortality in frail ICU patients across eight ICUs
In a prospective multinational prevalence study, frail ICU patients whose PhenoAge exceeded their chronological age had higher 30-day mortality (30% vs. 11%) and more death or ICU readmission; biological age predicted mortality better than chronological age. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The prospective multinational prevalence study included frail adults with a clinical frailty scale of at least 4 in eight ICUs across six countries. [1]
Of 784 ICU bed-days, 327 (41.7%) were occupied by frail patients, and 208 of those patients (63.6%) showed PhenoAgeAccel. [1]
PhenoAgeAccel was associated with higher 30-day mortality (30% vs. 11%; relative risk 2.70) and with death or ICU readmission (relative risk 2.48), remaining significant after adjustment for frailty. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Prospective multinational prevalence study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Frail adults with a clinical frailty scale of at least 4 admitted to eight ICUs in six countries.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 10, 2026
Frail ICU patients in eight ICUs, six countries
The study was a prospective multinational prevalence study of frail adults with a clinical frailty scale of at least 4, admitted to eight intensive care units in six countries. The authors note that chronological age often fails to reflect biological vulnerability in critical illness. Biological aging was measured with the Levine PhenoAge model. Accelerated aging, called PhenoAgeAccel, was defined as PhenoAge exceeding chronological age after regression adjustment.
Supporting source [1]
Higher mortality and readmission with accelerated aging
Of 784 ICU bed-days, 327 (41.7%) were occupied by frail patients; of these, 208 (63.6%) showed PhenoAgeAccel. Biological age outperformed chronological age for predicting 30-day mortality (AUROC 0.66 vs. 0.54). PhenoAgeAccel was associated with longer ICU stay, higher 30-day mortality (30% vs. 11%; relative risk 2.70) and greater risk of death or ICU readmission (relative risk 2.48). These associations remained significant after adjustment for frailty.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the ICU prediction findings
The authors conclude that accelerated biological aging is common in frail ICU patients and may improve short-term risk stratification beyond chronological age alone. The reported figures are associations, not proof that accelerated aging causes death or readmission. Only the abstract was reviewed; the full text was not reviewed, so details of the PhenoAge measurement, follow-up and adjustment models beyond those stated here are not confirmed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The reported figures are associations, not causal effects, and details of measurement, follow-up and adjustment beyond the abstract are not confirmed.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Ho L, Rogers FB, Rai S, Nicola H, Käyser-Abdo WF, Al-Fares A, Katsounas A, Larson N, Chu MHM, Wong HMK, Cham EYK, Ho KM. · europepmc.org · August 10, 2026