A tool to estimate the date of death of frail people

The website, unveiled by Canadian researchers, can calculate the life expectancy of the most fragile patients.

Elderly patients can now know the date of their death ... and sometimes to the week. Canadian researchers have developed the RESPECT tool, put online Monday, July 5, 2021, which calculates the life expectancy of frail people. The objective of this project: to accompany and prepare patients, so that they can obtain more appropriate care.

To find out their life expectancy, patients simply fill out a short questionnaire with about 20 questions about their chronic diseases or the frequency of their hospitalizations. The tool also warns that "the calculated life expectancy can be as low as four weeks for very frail people". The website advises users to discuss the results with their doctor in order to set up an effective support.

A relevant study

At the end of the questionnaire, users obtain their life expectancy based on data provided by Project Big Life scientists. The website's estimates are based on data from 491,277 patients over the age of 50 who received home care in Ontario between 2007 and 2013. The result obtained by users is therefore a median: if the patient gets one year of life expectancy, for example, that means that as many people died before that date as were alive after.

While the study is based on Canadian data, it is also relevant to French patients. Despite the difference in life expectancy between the two countries, Bruyère Research Institute researcher and University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine professor Dr. Amy Hsu explains that "when we're talking about an older, frail patient population with similar types of diseases and functional limitations, the risk factors and life expectancy don't differ much between countries and populations. A site that could also allow the most frail French people to be better accompanied in their last days.