Abstract
BackgroundFrailty is a multidimensional syndrome that leads to an increase of an age-related disorder of several physiological systems, and cognitive abilities decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of frailty among older persons in Belgium and we examined the factors associated with frailty with a principal focus en cognitive, dietary status, and inflammatory parameters.MethodsA total of 124 participants (90 women, 34 men; age: mean ± SD: 85.9 ± 5.5 years) were studied, recruited from the Geriatrics department, Belgium. Nutritional, cognitive status and physical activity were assessed using Mini Mental State Examination score (MMSE), Mini Nutritional Assessment score (MNA), and Katz score, respectively. Frailty syndrome was evaluated using the modified Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment (SEGA) score. Medication and medical history were recorded. Analyzed biochemical parameters included C-reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count, blood creatinine, vitamin D level, and serum protein electrophoresis. According to SEGA score, participants were divided into non-frail (n = 19), frail (n = 25) and severely frail patients (n = 80).ResultsThe SEGA score was inversely correlated with MMSE, MNA and Katz score. SEGA.score was negatively correlated to albumin levels (r = − 0.30; p < 0.001) and positively correlated to CRP, polypharmacy and age (r = 0.28, r = 0.37, r = 0.33 and p < 0.01 respectively). Logistic regression showed a strong association between frailty, Katz score, dementia, polypharmacy and living in nursing home.ConclusionOur results provide useful information for understanding mechanisms of frailty. This will help to develop preventive strategies for the elderly at the pre-frailty stage.
Highlights
Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome that leads to an increase of an age-related disorder of several physiological systems, and cognitive abilities decline
The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the studied population was in the normal weight range with a mean of 24.7 ± 5.7 kg/m2
Short Emergency Geriatric Assessment (SEGA) score was negatively correlated to albumin levels (r = − 0.30; p < 0.01) and positively correlated to C-reactive protein (CRP), polypharmacy, and age (r = 0.28, r = 0.37, and r = 0.33, respectively; p < 0.01) (Table 4)
Summary
Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome that leads to an increase of an age-related disorder of several physiological systems, and cognitive abilities decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of frailty among older persons in Belgium and we examined the factors associated with frailty with a principal focus en cognitive, dietary status, and inflammatory parameters. Frailty has been described as a clinical state functional reserve decline associated with aging. Weakness, exhaustion and low activity are combined and affect the performance of functional tasks negatively [1]. Cognitive impairment or dementia is a clinical syndrome that manifests as a decline in cognition, attention, memory, and language that are able to impair daily living activities of a person [7].
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