Abstract
BackgroundAccumulation of problems in physical, psychological, cognitive, or social functioning is characteristic for frail individuals. Using a four-domain approach of frailty, this study explored how sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, life events and health are associated with frailty.MethodsThe study sample included 4019 men and women (aged 40–81 years) examined during the fifth round (2008–2012) of the Doetinchem Cohort Study. Four domains of frailty were considered: physical (≥4 of 8 criteria: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, strength, perceived health, walking, balance, hearing and vision impairments), psychological (2 criteria: depressive symptoms, mental health), cognitive (<10th percentile on global cognitive functioning), and social frailty (≥2 of 3 criteria: loneliness, social support, social participation). Logistic regression was used to study the cross-sectional association of sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, life events and chronic diseases with frailty domains.ResultsAbout 17% of the population was frail on one or more domains. Overlap between the frailty domains was limited since 82% of the frail population was frail on one domain only. Low educated respondents were at higher risk of being psychologically and socially frail. Having multiple diseases was associated with a higher risk of being physically and psychologically frail. Being physically active was consistently associated with a lower risk of frailty on each of the four domains. Short or long sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of being physically, psychologically, and socially frail.ConclusionsSociodemographic factors, lifestyle and multimorbidity contributed differently to the four frailty domains. It is important to consider multiple frailty domains since this helps to identify different groups of frail people, and as such to provide tailored care and support. Lifestyle factors including physical activity, smoking and sleep duration were associated with multiple domains of frailty.
Highlights
Accumulation of problems in physical, psychological, cognitive, or social functioning is characteristic for frail individuals
Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle and multimorbidity contributed differently to each of the frailty domains. This highlights the relevance of a multidimensional approach to frailty as operationalized in the integral conceptual model of frailty
Understanding which groups of older adults are at risk of being frail on each domain may help to prevent frailty and to identify frail individuals in an early stage
Summary
Accumulation of problems in physical, psychological, cognitive, or social functioning is characteristic for frail individuals. Accumulation of problems in one or more of these domains of functioning is characteristic for frail people. Frailty was mainly focused on the physical problems that older people encounter, such as in Fried’s popular ‘phenotype of frailty’ [1]. Frailty is ‘a dynamic state affecting an individual who experiences losses in one or more domains of human functioning (physical, psychological, social) caused by the influence of a range of variables and which increases the risk of adverse outcomes’. A multidimensional approach to frailty is coherent with the interdisciplinary diagnostic process used in the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for frail older people, which examines physical, mental (including both psychological and cognitive functioning), and social functioning [6, 7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
