224 METABOLIC SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INCIDENT FRAILTY

Abstract

Abstract Background Frailty and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are both associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to examine the association between MetS and incident frailty in older adults in Ireland over a 4-year follow-up period. Methods This study used data from wave 1 and 3 of The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA). Frailty status was operationalised using Fried’s frailty phenotype (FP). FP was determined at both waves. MetS was determined at wave 1, according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) criteria. Those who were frail/pre-frail at wave 3 having been classified as non-frail at wave 1 were deemed to have ‘worsening frailty’, while those non-frail at both waves were deemed ‘stable non-frail’. Logistic regression models examined the association between MetS and worsening frailty compared to stable non-frail. Results FP was determined for 3,317 participants at both wave 1 and wave 3 of TILDA, of which 970 (29%) and 1,201 (36%) had MetS at wave 1 according to ATPIII and IDF criteria respectively. 664 (20%) had worsening frailty, while 1,624 (49%) were stable non-frail. Adjusted for age, sex and education, MetS was associated with an increased likelihood of worsening frailty, for both ATPIII and IDF criteria, OR 1.70 (p < 0.001) and OR 1.63 (p < 0.001) respectively. This association persisted when further adjusted for smoking history, chronic conditions (excluding diabetes and hypertension), renal function and micronutrients [OR 1.50, p = 0.001 (ATPIII) and OR 1.46, p = 0.001 (IDF)]. Conclusion MetS increases the likelihood of incident frailty/pre-frailty by approximately 50% over a 4-year period. MetS should be considered a risk factor for frailty and should be considered in any comprehensive geriatric assessment given the dynamic nature of frailty and the potentially modifiable nature of MetS.