Frailty and Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: frailty is defined as a multifactorial syndrome leading to difficulties in maintaining homeostasis, and vulnerability to stressors. Depression shares many manifestations, risk factors and consequences with frailty. Some studies included cognitive assessment as a component to evaluate frailty. Aim of the work: this study aimed to assess depression and cognition in frail elderly and to assess if depression could be underlying link between cognitive function and frailty. Patients and methods: this case control study included 102 males and females elderly living in geriatric homes in Cairo and excluded those who were bedridden or had sensory impairment interfering with communication, stroke, Parkinsonism, severe osteoarthritis, or dyspnea on ordinary exertion. All patients were subjected to comprehensive geriatric assessment. Frailty was diagnosed using a modified version of Fried criteria. We used the physical activity metric that was constructed by Avila-Funes. Conclusion: this study showed that cognitive impairment and depression did not differ between frail and non-frail subjects.