Trends in frailty and its associated factors in the community dwelling elderly Indian population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective analytical study

Abstract

Background: There is a scarcity of quality literature on the prevalence of frailty among community dwelling elderly in India. This study was originally planned to analyze the longitudinal trends in frailty status of community dwelling elderly in an Indian population as well to identify factors associated with frailty in the Indian context. However, the recruitment phase of this study coincided with one of the largest lockdowns in history, associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and this gave us a unique opportunity to study the effects this pandemic enforced, as a result of the necessary restrictions, on the frailty status as well the factors affecting frailty in the elderly. Methods: A prospective observational study was designed and conducted amongst 19 community dwelling elderly of Dakshina Kannada District, in Karnataka India. Outcome variables of frailty (EFIP), physical activity (PASE), functional mobility (TUG), gait speed (10-meter walk test), nutritional status (MNA®-SF) body composition (BIA), and strength (dynamometry), were measured at baseline and on follow-up after three months. The changes occurring in these variables over the three-month period were analyzed and the change in frailty was independently correlated with changes in each of the other outcomes. Results: We couldn’t identify any statistically significant difference in frailty over a period of three months. However, there was a highly significant change in the physical activity status, lower extremity muscle strength, body composition, functional mobility, gait speed, and cognitive function in the same time period. Conclusions: Though individual determinants of frailty in community dwelling changed over a three-month period, these changes failed to produce any observable/measurable difference in frailty status.