Factors associated with frailty syndrome in older adults with three- and four-criteria clustering

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the main clusters of diagnostic criteria pertaining to frailty syndrome as well as the factors associated with the occurrence of frailty without diagnostic criteria clusters and with clusters of three and four criteria. This is a cross-sectional study, carried out with 216 older adults. In order to determine the dependent variable, a combination of the following criteria for frailty syndrome diagnostic criteria was used: unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, muscle weakness, a low level of physical activity, and a slow gait speed. There were different clusters of Frailty Syndrome diagnostic criteria and were associated with Frailty with clustering of three criteria, age group ≥80 years and negative self-perception of health and Frailty with clustering of four criteria, age group ≥80 years and polypharmacy use. Age, self-perception of health, and polypharmacy can be assessed to target different intervention plans in the frail older adult population.