Abstract
BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) correlates with accelerated aging and earlier appearance of geriatric phenotypes, including frailty. However, whether pre-frailty or frailty predicts greater healthcare utilization in diabetes patients is unclear.MethodsFrom the Longitudinal Cohort of Diabetes Patients in Taiwan (n = 840,000) between 2004 and 2010, we identified 560,795 patients with incident type 2 DM, categorized into patients without frailty, or with 1, 2 (pre-frail) and ≥ 3 frailty components, based on FRAIL scale (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and body weight Loss). We examined their long-term mortality, cardiovascular risk, all-cause hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.ResultsAmong all participants (56.4 ± 13.8 year-old, 46.1% female, and 84.8% community-dwelling), 77.8% (n = 436,521), 19.2% (n = 107,757), 2.7% (n = 15,101), and 0.3% (n = 1416) patients did not have or had 1, 2 (pre-frail), and ≥ 3 frailty components (frail), respectively, with Fatigue and Illness being the most common components. After 3.14 years of follow-up, 7.8% patients died, whereas 36.6% and 9.1% experienced hospitalization and ICU stay, respectively. Cox proportional hazard modeling discovered that patients with 1, 2 (pre-frail), and ≥ 3 frailty components (frail) had an increased risk of mortality (for 1, 2, and ≥ 3 components, hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, 1.13, and 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.07, 1.08–1.17, and 1.15–1.36, respectively), cardiovascular events (HR 1.05, 1.15, and 1.13; 95% CI 1.02–1.07, 1.1–1.2, and 1.01–1.25, respectively), hospitalization (HR 1.06, 1.16, and 1.25; 95% CI 1.05–1.07, 1.14–1.19, and 1.18–1.33, respectively), and ICU admission (HR 1.05, 1.13, and 1.17; 95% CI 1.03–1.07, 1.08–1.14, and 1.06–1.28, respectively) compared to non-frail ones. Approximately 6–7% risk elevation in mortality and healthcare utilization was noted for every frailty component increase.ConclusionPre-frailty and frailty increased the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, and entailed greater healthcare utilization in patients with type 2 DM.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus (DM) correlates with accelerated aging and earlier appearance of geriatric phe‐ notypes, including frailty
Cox proportional hazard modeling discovered that patients with 1, 2, and ≥ 3 frailty components had an increased risk of mortality, cardiovascular events (HR 1.05, 1.15, and 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.07, 1.1–1.2, and 1.01–1.25, respectively), hospitalization (HR 1.06, 1.16, and 1.25; 95% CI 1.05–1.07, 1.14–1.19, and 1.18–1.33, respectively), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (HR 1.05, 1.13, and 1.17; 95% CI 1.03–1.07, 1.08–1.14, and 1.06–1.28, respectively) compared to non-frail ones
Pre-frailty and frailty increased the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, and entailed greater healthcare utilization in patients with type 2 DM
Summary
Diabetes mellitus (DM) correlates with accelerated aging and earlier appearance of geriatric phe‐ notypes, including frailty. Whether defined by the deficit-accumulation approach or the physical frailty approach, the presence of frailty correlates with functional impairment and adverse health outcomes, providing the background for subsequent disability, hospitalization, nursing home stay, and loss of independence [3, 4]. Researchers have proposed that the identification of pre-frailty can facilitate earlier and more aggressive intervention to contain the detrimental influences of ensuing frailty, disability, and possibly mortality [7]. In light of these results, understanding the effect of frailty and especially pre-frailty, on the overall health and patients’ healthcare utilization assumes great importance for the care of old patients
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