Frequency of Frailty in Old Age Sedentary Population with Disturbed Neurological Status

Abstract

Background: Frailty is a common syndrome among older adults, characterized by a decline in physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. This study investigates the prevalence of frailty and its correlation with neurological status in a sedentary elderly population residing in old age homes. Objective: The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of frailty and assess the relationship between frailty and cognitive impairment among sedentary elderly individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted across various old age homes in Lahore. Data collection began six months post-approval from the ethical committee, adhering to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Using a non-probability convenience sampling technique, 111 participants aged 60 years and above were recruited. Exclusion criteria included traumatic injury, severe psychiatric illness, and complete disability. Frailty was assessed using the FRAIL scale, which includes components like fatigue, resistance, aerobic capacity, illness, and weight loss. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with descriptive and inferential statistics employed to explore the relationships between variables. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.063 years (SD = 7.942). Frailty assessment revealed that 88.3% (n=98) were frail, 8.1% (n=9) were pre-frail, and 3.6% (n=4) were not frail. Cognitive assessment showed that 31.5% (n=35) of participants had normal cognitive function, 66.6% (n=74) had mild cognitive impairment, and 1.8% (n=2) had moderate cognitive impairment. No participants were classified with severe cognitive impairment. A weak negative correlation was found between MMSE scores and FRAIL scale scores (r = -0.090, p = 0.346), indicating no significant association between cognitive impairment and frailty in this population. Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of frailty and mild cognitive impairment among the sedentary elderly population in old age homes. Despite the weak correlation between cognitive impairment and frailty, the findings underscore the need for comprehensive geriatric care strategies that address both physical and mental health to improve the quality of life and functional independence of elderly individuals.