Risk Of Frailty Research Articles

Association of foods consumption and physical activity with prefrailty and frailty among Chinese older adults in urban communities: A cross-sectional study.

Frailty has become a public health challenge in China. To investigate the association of foods consumption and physical activity with prefrailty and frailty among older Chinese adults in urban communities. In a cross-sectional study from February to July 2023, 1183 older adults aged between 65y-88y were enrolled from urban communities in Chongqing and Shandong province, China. Frailty Index (FI) was applied to measure prefrailty and frailty. Partial proportional odds model was used to assess the association between foods consumption, physical activity and prefrailty/frailty. Higher Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.46-0.80; OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.28-0.79), Consuming animal-based foods ≥2 times/day (OR=0.62, 95% CI=0.47-0.82; OR=0.54, 95% CI=0.33-0.88), soy products ≥2 times/week (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.53-0.89; OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.31-0.84), fresh vegetables ≥2 times/day (OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.31-0.57; OR=0.41, 95% CI=0.23-0.72), and nuts ≥2 times/week (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.55-0.91; OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.32-0.85) was associated with a lower risk of prefrailty and frailty. In addition, higher frequency and longer duration of walking (OR=0.61, 95% CI=0.42-0.88; OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.48-0.81), exercise (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.35-0.64; OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.32-0.61) per week were significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty. Furthermore, higher frequency and longer duration of walking (OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.25-0.72; OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.29-0.74), and housework (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.24-0.65; OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.34-0.96) per week, were significantly associated with lower frailty. Higher DDS and higher frequency of animal-based foods, soy products, fresh vegetables, and nuts consumption is significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty and frailty. Additionally, walking and exercising are significantly associated with lower risk of prefrailty, while walking and doing housework is significantly associated with lower frailty.

Aortitis Secondary to Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Rare Complication Unveiled

Abstract Introduction Aortitis includes both infectious and non-infectious inflammation of the arterial wall. Infectious forms have a worse prognosis, necessitating immediate diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated with infectious aortitis and multiple embolic lesions, ultimately leading to death. Case presentation An 81-year-old man with an aortic valve bioprosthesis (Intuity 27 mm) presented with fever, dysuria, and ankle swelling. Laboratory showed leukocytosis, anemia, elevated NT-proBNP, and C-reactive protein. Echocardiography revealed a hyperechogenic mass on the bioprosthesis, confirmed as prosthetic endocarditis by transesophageal echocardiography, which also showed an aortic bulb aneurysm and a 9 mm arterial wall thickening. Blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus, and intravenous antibiotics were started. Thoracic computed tomography confirmed aortic root dilation and mural thickening, indicating infectious aortitis with multiple embolic lesions in the spleen and kidneys. The patient then suffered an intestinal sub-occlusion. The Heart Team decided against cardiovascular surgery due to frailty and high surgical risk. Despite initial hemodynamic stability, his condition deteriorated, leading to death. Conclusion This case presents a challenging scenario of prosthetic valvular endocarditis complicated by infectious aortitis, aortic aneurysm, and multiple thromboembolic lesions in a high-risk patient, ultimately resulting in death.

A hand-in-hand phenomenon in older adults: Increased risk of frailty in geriatric outpatients associated with handgrip strength asymmetry and weakness

ObjectivesHandgrip strength (HGS) is accepted as a predictor of overall health status and a biomarker of aging, besides negative health outcomes and mortality. While differences in HGS between the dominant and non-dominant hands are expected, substantial discrepancies may signal impaired muscle function. This study aims to investigate whether handgrip asymmetry can serve as a reliable indicator of frailty in a diverse population of older adults. DesignCross-sectional study Setting and participantsA total of 512 patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted to the geriatric medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital were enrolled in the study. MethodsThe Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) was used to assess the overall level of frailty of the study population. The highest recorded HGS values from the non-dominant and dominant hand were used to calculate the HGS ratio. Those with a HGS ratio of dominant and non-dominant hand <0.90 or >1.10 were defined as HGS asymmetry. ResultsOf the whole study group, 61.1% was female and the mean age was 73.2 ± 6.1 years. The ratio of the participants living with frailty was 57.6% (n=219). The number of patients with HGS asymmetry was 264 (51.6%), and 48.4% (n=248) of the study population had symmetric HGS. The normal and symmetric HGS was found in 40.2% of the non-frail group, whereas it was 23.7% in patients living with frailty. Furthermore, the ratio of low and asymmetric HGS was 16.3% in the non-frail group, and 35.0% in the patients living with frailty (p<0.001). The presence of asymmetric and low HGS increased the risk of frailty three times independently of other confounding factors (OR:3.08; 95% CI:1.48-6.43; p=0.003). Conclusions and ImplicationsIdentifying HGS asymmetry along with low HGS as potential indicators of frailty may provide clinicians with a clear and quantifiable criterion for assessing older patients.

Neuropsychiatric and Cardiac Complications in Post-operative Antibiotic Therapy in Elderly Patients Undergoing Otorhinolaryngological Surgeries: A Review of Frailty Risk Indices.

With the increase in life expectancy and awareness, more otorhinolaryngologic surgeries are being performed in the elderly population. Otorhinolaryngologic surgeries like septoplasty, tympanoplasty, and dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgeries are elective surgeries for improving the quality of life. However, post-operative medication can entail a risk to life or serious side effects in elderly patients. It is seen that before any surgery, the patients have undergone various tests and investigations to monitor the nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity primarily to gauge medication clearance and organ damage. However, the effects of various post-operative medications on the central nervous system and cardiovascular system are less well-discussed. Harmful effects of various drugs especially antibiotics given post-operatively in otorhinolaryngology on the central nervous and cardiovascular system are not frequently reported, and the underlying mechanisms may be unclear or conflicting. Older individuals have a greater chance of experiencing serious drug reactions due to physiologic changes affecting pharmacokinetic processes. Some frailty risk indices can be used to determine the cognitive and physiological conditions in geriatric patients so that the outcome of using antibiotics in the post-operative period on the neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular systems can be predicted. This review aims to summarise the research on the neurotoxic and cardiac effects of antibiotics used in otorhinolaryngology practice in the post-operative period in elderly patients, with a focus on signs of psychosis, delirium, cognitive impairment, syncope, cardiac arrest, angina-like symptoms, etc. This review also studies some frailty risk indices that can be used to predict the neuropsychiatric and cardiac side effects due to polypharmacy, especially antibiotics. Hence, post-operative risks can be predetermined and a protocol for further management can be established.

Prevalence and predisposing factors of frailty and social inclusion among older adults: A cross-sectional study.

The present study aimed to identify the prevalence and predisposing factors of frailty and social inclusion among community-dwelling older adults. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design. The target population consisted of older adults registered in five family health centers in a city in Turkey. The study was completed with 600 older adults. The Tilburg frailty indicator (TFI) and the social inclusion scale were used to collect data. The prevalence of frailty in older adults was 60.5%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk of frailty was found to be higher in older adults aged 75 and over (2.5 times), those with low education level (5.8 times), those who were single (2 times), those with chronic diseases (1.8 times), those with unhealthy lifestyle (2.8 times), and those who were dissatisfied with their home living environment (5.9 times). It was found that age, education level, marital status, income, presence of chronic disease, lifestyle, satisfaction with their home living environment, and frailty explained 50% of the variance in social inclusion. The study concluded that most community-dwelling older adults were frail, and social inclusion was lower in those frail. Age, education level, marital status, lifestyle, presence of chronic disease, and satisfaction with their home living environment were found to be predisposing factors for both frailty and social inclusion. Public health nurses could develop strategies to prevent frailty in older adults and increase activities that encourage participation in social life.

Fragilidad del adulto mayor con enfermedad renal crónica. Un estudio observacional de centro único

Introduction: Frailty in the elderly (AM) increases morbidity and mortality. This condition is highly prevalent in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and, together with frailty, greatly affects physical, cognitive, and emotional capacity. The study aimed to determine frailty in older adults with CKD in a reference center in Cuenca-Ecuador. Methods: The present observational study was conducted at the “José Carrasco Arteaga” Hospital from September 2020 to April 2021. Older adults with a diagnosis of CKD were included; patients with disabilities, severe cognitive impairment, and those with palliative care were excluded. The direct source variables are demographic, clinical, physical activity, functional capacity, mood, mental state, and frailty. The sample was probabilistic. The Chi2 test is used to compare percentages. Results: 79 cases are analyzed. The MA had 38% frailty, 36.7% were pre-frail, and 25.3% were robust. A more significant proportion of 'young' AM was observed in patients classified as robust. A more substantial proportion of robust patients were receiving clinical treatment, while patients in the hemodialysis program were classified as frail. The most significant proportion of robust patients had mild degrees of renal failure, while frail patients were classified as CKD grades 4 and 5. Physical activity was active primarily in robust patients and mostly passive in patients with frailty. Conclusion: Conclusion: there is a high prevalence of frailty in this population group, especially in women and those between 75 and 85 years old. The results suggest that CKD in older adults is associated with a higher risk of frailty, dependence, and comorbidities, which underlines the importance of implementing multidisciplinary and personalized interventions to improve the quality of life and prognosis of these patients.

Gender Disparities in Frailty and Its Decomposition Among Chinese Older Adults.

To identify the evidence of gender disparities in frailty and explore the factors contributing to male-female differences. A longitudinal study. A total of 24,429 older adults (60+) were enrolled. Frailty was assessed by frailty index and frailty risk based on Rockwood's cumulative deficit frailty index. OLS and logistic regression models were conducted, with Oaxaca-Blinder and Fairlie decomposition methods to further analyse the factors contributing to gender disparities in frailty. The paper used four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011 to 2018, a nationwide survey organised by the National Development Institute of Peking University. Women had higher frailty status than men, with more pronounced increases. Among the factors, education has the most significant association with frailty gender disparities. The contribution of individual characteristics, particularly education, to gender disparities in frailty appeared to diminish over time, while the contribution of family and regional factors remained relatively stable, and the contribution of institutions was deemed inadequate. The frailty in Chinese older adults is generally on the rise with continuously expanded gender disparities. It is crucial to consider the contributing factors to frailty in older adults for effective prevention and intervention strategies. Additional gender-specific geriatric care policies are needed in order to address gender inequality in health. The findings of this study highlight the prevalence of increasing gender disparities in frailty and identify that the level of education, per capita annual household income as well as marital status are the most significant factors contributing to the gender gap. Those findings provide policy implications for healthcare nursing service from a gender-specific perspective in order to achieve health equity. This study has adhered to the STROBE guideline. No Patient or Public Contribution. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTE TO THE WIDER GLOBAL CLINICAL COMMUNITY: This study provided implications on gender-specific geriatric care nursing services. The study highlighted the importance of focusing on frailty and its gender disparities in geriatric clinical nursing.

Dietary trajectories over 21 years and frailty in Norwegian older adults: the Tromsø Study 1994–2016

PurposeTo investigate the association between five dietary trajectories over 21 years and frailty in Norwegian older adults.MethodsThis study used data from three surveys of the Tromsø Study. Diet was measured using food frequency questionnaires at baseline (Tromsø4, 1994–95), after 7 years (Tromsø5, 2001) and at the end of follow-up (Tromsø7, 2015–16). Survey-specific diet scores were constructed based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 and group-based trajectory modelling was used to derive dietary trajectories. At follow-up, frailty was assessed with a 41-item frailty index. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between dietary trajectories and frailty, adjusted for baseline variables.ResultsAmong the 715 participants, 55% were women, with an average age of 54 years at baseline and 74 years at follow-up. The dietary trajectories ‘moderately healthy’ and ‘healthy increase’ were associated with a lower frailty index score at follow-up (β = −0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.04, −0.002, β = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.06, −0.007), compared with the ‘unhealthy’ trajectory.ConclusionOur findings suggest that maintaining a moderately healthy to very healthy diet from mid-life into older age is associated with a lower risk of frailty and supports the promotion of a healthy diet from adulthood to facilitate healthy ageing.

Does autoimmune diseases increase the risk of frailty? A Mendelian randomization study.

The causality of autoimmune diseases with frailty has not been firmly established. We conducted this Mendelian randomization (MR) study to unveil the causal associations between autoimmune diseases with frailty. A MR analyses were performed to explore the relationships between autoimmune disease and frailty, using summary genome-wide association statistics. Through a comprehensive and meticulous screening process, we incorporated 46, 7, 12, 20, 5, and 53 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs) for hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), type 1 diabetes (T1D), multiple sclerosis (MS), and overall autoimmune disease, respectively. Our analysis revealed that hypothyroidism (OR = 1.023, 95% CI: 1.008-1.038, p = 0.0015), hyperthyroidism (OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.004-1.045, p = 0.0163), RA (OR = 1.031, 95% CI: 1.011-1.052, p = 0.0017), T1D (OR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.004-1.017, p = 0.0012), and overall autoimmune disease (OR = 1.044, 95% CI: 1.028-1.061, p = 5.32*10^-8) exhibited a positive causal effect on frailty. Conversely, there may be a negative causal association between MS (OR = 0.984, 95% CI: 0.977-0.992, p = 4.87*10^-5) and frailty. Cochran's Q test indicated heterogeneity among IVs derived from hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, T1D, and overall autoimmune diseases. The MR-Egger regression analyzes revealed an absence of horizontal pleiotropy in any of the conducted analyses. This study elucidates that hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, RA, T1D, and overall autoimmune disease were linked to an elevated risk of frailty. Conversely, MS appears to be associated with a potential decrease in the risk of frailty.

Cognitive frailty in relation to vitamin B12 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in an elderly population: a cross-sectional study from NHANES.

Nutritional support has been identified as a potential intervention for cognitive frailty; however, the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D], vitamin B12, and cognitive frailty remains ambiguous. This study utilized data from two cycles (2011-2012, 2013-2014) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate this relationship. The researchers constructed a 41-item frailty index encompassing diverse aspects of physical functioning, psychological evaluation, and medical conditions, and evaluated each participant individually. The study utilized Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and univariate ordered logistic regression to assess the relationships between variables and cognitive frailty. Recursive feature elimination and cross-validation methods were employed to identify the most influential variables for building and optimizing multivariate ordered logistic regression models. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were further conducted to validate the identified correlations. The findings of this study confirm a negative linear correlation between 25-(OH)D levels and cognitive frailty in older adults. Specifically, a one-unit increase in 25-(OH)D levels was associated with a 12% reduction in the risk of cognitive frailty. The result was further supported by subgroup analyses and interaction tests. The existence of a negatively correlated linear association between 25-(OH)D levels and cognitive frailty in older adults is plausible, but further rigorously designed longitudinal studies are necessary to validate this relationship.

Avoidable Hospitalizations in Frail Older Adults: The Role of Sociodemographic, Clinical, and Care-Related Factors

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the relationship between frailty and avoidable hospitalization risk, and the moderating role of sociodemographic, clinical, and care-related factors. DesignLongitudinal population-based cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsA total of 3168 community-dwelling individuals, aged ≥60 years, from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). MethodsWe operationalized physical frailty using baseline SNAC-K data (2001-2004). In line with the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare and Association of Local Authorities and Regions, avoidable hospitalizations were considered those that could have been prevented through proper and timely outpatient care and identified through the Swedish National Patient Register. Participants were followed from baseline until first avoidable hospitalization, death, drop out, institutionalization, or maximum 12 (median 7.6) years. The association between frailty and avoidable hospitalization was explored through flexible parametric survival models, with stratified analyses to investigate age, gender, education, civil status, multimorbidity, cognitive status, and informal and formal care as potential modifiers. ResultsThe adjusted 12-year cumulative incidence of avoidable hospitalization was significantly higher for frail persons (cumulative incidence 33.2%, 95% CI 28.9%-38.1%) than for prefrail (cumulative incidence 26.6%, 95% CI 24.5%-29.0%) and nonfrail (cumulative incidence 25.2%, 95% CI 22.5%-28.3%) individuals. In addition, prefrailty [hazard ratio (HR) 1.21, 95% CI 1.00-1.45] and frailty (HR 1.91, 95% CI 1.47-2.50) were associated with increased avoidable hospitalization hazards. Furthermore, the association between frailty and avoidable hospitalization was stronger in older adults aged <78 years (HR 3.12, 95% CI 1.99-4.91) and those with relatively fewer chronic diseases (HR 3.88, 95% CI 1.95-7.72), whereas provision of formal social care (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.77-1.72) seemed to act as a buffer. Conclusions and ImplicationsOur results indicate that older community-dwelling adults with prefrailty and frailty are at increased risk of experiencing avoidable hospitalizations, highlighting a need for better care of these individuals at the outpatient level. Formal social care services and close monitoring of particularly vulnerable subgroups of frail persons may mitigate this risk.

Association between physical activity & sedentary time on frailty in adults with chronic kidney disease: Cross-sectional NHANES study

ObjectiveA considerable percentage of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are reported to be frail. Lower physical activity and higher sedentary time are most consistently associated with frailty among the potentially alterable risk factors. Although the single effect of physical activity or sedentary time on suppressing frailty have been widely studied, whether physical activity can mitigate or counteract the detrimental consequences of higher sedentary time on frailty among CKD population has never been explored. This study aims to explore whether and to what extent the correlation between sedentary time and frailty was diminished by physical activity among CKD population. Study design and settingData were acquired from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007 to 2018 cycles. Frailty index was assessed using 49-item deficit model. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using the Global Activity Questionnaire. Weighted binary logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline models and sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the aforementioned relationship. ResultsThe final sample included 2551 adults aged ≥20 years with CKD, which is represented a weighted number of 4.98 million noninstitutionalized US population. In the fully adjusted model, the group with low physical activity was 1.56 (95 % CI:1.19, 2.03) times more likely to develop frailty than the group with high physical activity and each unit of increase of sedentary time was associated with an 41 % increased risk of frailty (OR = 1.41, 95 % CI = 1.04–1.89). Our findings also indicated that engaging in 1240–6200 MET-min/week of high physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of frailty related to moderate-to-high sedentary time among CKD population (OR = 0.69, 95 % CI = 0.49–0.99, P = 0.044). In subgroup analyses, high physical activity was associated with a 0.43-fold (95%CI: 0.24, 0.77) decreased risk of moderate-to-high sedentary time associated with frailty in female groups and a significant modification effect of gender was uncovered (Pinteraction = 0.024). ConclusionHigh physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of frailty related to moderate-to-high sedentary time in adults with CKD, especially in females subgroups.

Joint effects of physical frailty and traditional cardiovascular risk factor control on cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes

ObjectivesPhysical frailty has been found to increase the risk of multiple adverse outcomes including cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetic patients, but whether this could be modified by traditional risk factor control remains unknown. We aimed to explore the joint and interaction effects of frailty and traditional risk factor control on the risk of CVD. DesignA population-based cohort study. Setting and participantsWe included 15,753 participants with type 2 diabetes at baseline from UK Biobank. MeasurementsPhysical frailty was assessed by Fried criteria’s frailty phenotype. The degree of risk factor control was determined by the numbers of the following factors controlled within the target range, including glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, and kidney condition. Incident CVD included coronary heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the individual and joint effects of frailty and risk factor control on the risk of CVD. ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 13.5 years, 1129 incident CVD events were observed. Compared with non-frailty, both prefrailty and frailty were significantly associated with increased risk of CVD (HR 1.22, 95% CI [1.13, 1.31] for pre-frailty and 1.70 [1.53, 1.90] for frailty). For the joint effects, participants with frailty and a low degree of risk factor control (control of 0−1 risk factors) had the highest risk of CVD (2.92 [2.04, 4.17]) compared to those with non-frailty and optimal risk factor control (control of 4−5 risk factors). Moreover, a significant additive interaction between frailty and risk factor control was observed, with around 3.8% of CVD risk attributed to the interactive effects. ConclusionsBoth prefrailty and frailty were associated with a higher risk of CVD in participants with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, physical frailty could interact with the degree of risk factor control in an additive manner to increase the CVD risk.

Correlation of geriatric assessment and outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients

Abstract Background Frailty is a vulnerable susceptibility to stressors during aging. Assessment of frailty could help make appropriate management plans and early interventions. Geriatric 8 (G8) is a screening tool designed to identify those at risk for frailty who need a more detailed assessment, while Geriatric Assessment in Hematology (GAH) is a multidimensional assessment similar to the comprehensive assessment designed specifically for patients with hematological malignancies. Methods Thirty-two newly diagnosed elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, with a mean age of 64.9 years, were assessed by G8 and GAH scores to be reclassified into 16 frail patients and 16 non-frail patients. The disease progression, hospital stay, complications, overall survival, and mortality rates in both groups were followed for 6 months. Results Comorbidities with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) were significantly higher in frail patients compared to non-frail patients; also, the ECOG performance score was significantly higher in frail patients compared to the non-frail patients. At 6 months of evaluation, non-frail patients had better overall response compared to frail patients, on using both G8 and GAH scores. At 1, 3, and 6 months of evaluation, the frail patients group exhibited a significantly higher mortality rate than the non-frail group. In our study, median hospitalization of non-frail group was significantly higher than that of frail group and total incidence of complications did not reveal a significant correlation with patient's frailty status. Conclusion Based on G8 and GAH scores, frail AML patients were more likely to have a higher incidence of early mortality and lower overall survival compared to non-frail patients.

Causal Associations of Cognitive Reserve and Hierarchical Aging-Related Outcomes: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

Two-sample Mendelian randomization methods were used to explore the causal effects of cognitive reserve proxies, such as educational attainment, occupational attainment, and physical activity (PA), on biological (leukocyte telomere length), phenotypic (sarcopenia-related features), and functional (frailty index and cognitive performance) aging levels. Educational attainment had a potential protective effect on the telomere length (β = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.08-0.11), sarcopenia-related features (β = 0.04-0.24, 95% CI: 0.02-0.27), frailty risk (β = -0.31, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.28), cognitive performance (β = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.75-0.80). Occupational attainment was causally related with sarcopenia-related features (β = 0.07-0.10, 95% CI: 0.05-0.14), and cognitive performance (β = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.24-0.36). Device-measured PA was potentially associated with one sarcopenia-related feature (β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25). Our findings support the potential causality of educational attainment on biological, phenotypic, and functional aging outcomes, of occupational attainment on phenotypic and functional aging-related outcomes, and of PA on phenotypic aging-related outcomes.

A predictive nomogram among hypertension old population from the community: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundFrailty presents a significant challenge for aging adults, with a multitude of factors needing consideration. Despite this, there is a lack of research on predicting frailty in the old population with hypertension. AimThis study aims to create and validate a nomogram model for the old population with hypertension, to predict frailty and gain valuable insights into its prevalence and determinants. MethodData for this study were extracted from the "Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR) in 2022 (PBICR-2022)", with information on frailty and related factors obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Frailty was assessed using the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, and Loss of Weight (FRAIL) scale. The independent variables encompassed sociodemographic, physiological, psychological, and family health factors. A total of 1135 participants aged over 60 with hypertension were included in the study. Univariate and stepwise binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the relationship between frailty and multiple risk factors and to establish the frailty risk prediction nomogram. ResultsThe prevalence of social frailty was found to be 30.91%. The final model included the degree of hypertension, history of falling in the past 3 months, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire score, depression levels, and Family Health Scale score. The model exhibited good accuracy in the testing set, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.984 (95% CI: 0.978, 0.990). ConclusionThese findings suggest that the prediction model effectively estimated the prevalence of frailty in the older population with hypertension from community and identified associated factors. The model demonstrated good performance and holds potential for further study on the management of frailty.

Regional differences in frailty among older adults with type 2 diabetes: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Japan

BackgroundSocial environment may broadly impact multifaceted frailty; however, how environmental differences influence frailty in older adults with diabetes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate regional differences in frailty in urban and rural areas among older adults with diabetes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the frailty prevention program for older adults with diabetes study. Older adults aged 60–80 years who could independently perform basic activities of daily living (ADLs) were enrolled sequentially. Trained nurses obtained patient background, complications, body weight, body composition, blood tests, grip strength, frailty assessment, and self-care score results. Regional differences in frailty were evaluated using logistic and multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsThis study included 417 participants (269 urban and 148 rural). The prevalence of robustness was significantly lower in rural areas than in urban areas (29.7% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.018). Living in rural areas was associated with frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38–4.71) and pre-frailty (OR 2.10, 95%CI 1.30–3.41). Lower instrumental ADL (B 0.28, standard error [SE] 0.073) and social ADL (B 0.265, SE 0.097) were characteristics of rural residents.ConclusionsRegional differences in frailty were observed. Older adults with diabetes living in rural areas have a higher risk of frailty owing to a decline in instrumental and social ADLs. Social environment assessment and intervention programs that include communication strategies to enable care and social participation across environments are crucial to the effective and early prevention of frailty.

Association of metabolic syndrome severity with frailty progression among Chinese middle and old-aged adults: a longitudinal study

BackgroundThe binary diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome(MetS) fails to accurately evaluate its severity, and the association between MetS severity and frailty progression remains inadequately elucidated. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the severity of MetS and the progression of frailty among the middle-aged and elderly population in China.MethodParticipants from the 2011–2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS) were included for a longitudinal analysis. The study employs a frailty index(FI) based on 32 health deficits to diagnose frailty and to assess FI trajectories. An age-sex-ethnicity-specific MetS scoring model (MetS score) was used to assess metabolic syndrome severity in Chinese adults. The Cumulative MetS score from 2012 to 2015 was calculated using the formula: (MetS score in wave 1 + MetS score in wave 3) / 2 × time(2015 - 2012). The association between MetS score, Cumulative MetS score, and the risk and trajectory of frailty were evaluated using Cox regression/logistic regression, and linear mixed models. Restricted Cubic Splines(RCS) models were utilized to detect potential non-linear associations.ResultsA higher MetS score was significantly associated with an increased risk of frailty(HR per 1 SD increase = 1.205; 95%CI: 1.14 to 1.273) and an accelerated FI trajectory(β per 1 SD increase = 0.113 per year; 95%CI: 0.075 to 0.15 per year). Evaluating changes in MetS score using a Cumulative MetS score indicated that each 1 SD increase in the Cumulative MetS score increased the risk of frailty by 22.2%(OR = 1.222; 95%CI: 1.133 to 1.319) and accelerated the rate of increase in FI(β = 0.098 per year; 95%CI: 0.058 to 0.138 per year). RCS model results demonstrated a dose-response curve relationship between MetS score and Cumulative MetS score with frailty risk. Stratified analysis showed consistency across subgroups. The interaction results indicate that in males and individuals under aged 60, MetS score may accelerate the increase in FI, a finding consistent across both models.ConclusionsOur findings underscore the positive correlation between the severity of MetS and frailty progression in the middle-aged and elderly, highlighting the urgent need for early identification of MetS and targeted interventions to reduce the risk of frailty.

The causality of atrial fibrillation on frailty index: A Mendelian randomization study.

Prior epidemiological research has indicated a possible association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and frailty status. Our study used Mendelian randomization to estimate its causality. The genome-wide association studies for AF were utilized as the exposure for individuals included in the UK Biobank (n = 463,010) and publicly available summary statistics data sets of genome-wide association studies meta-analyses for frailty index in individuals of European descent (n = 175,226) was used as the outcome. The inverse variance weighting method was utilized to evaluate causality. To further confirm the reliability of the results, sensitivity analyses were conducted. The inverse variance weighting analysis indicated that the presence of AF was found to be statistically linked to an increased risk of frailty (odds ratio = 3.017, CI: 1.106-8.232, P = .031). MR-Egger intercept test indicated no pleiotropy (Egger intercept = .002, P = .808). The leave-one-out method indicated that the individual SNPs did not have an impact on the robustness of the findings. The research implies a causal relationship between AF and frailty. Early detection and timely intervention of AF can control the occurrence of frailty.

Association between frailty and main work during the LIFE: A cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank

BackgroundThe role of main work during the life course in predicting frailty, a typical geriatric syndrome, is still largely unknown. Therefore, with this research, we aimed to investigate the potential association between the main work done during the life with frailty and pre-frailty among participants 60 years and older of the UK Biobank study. MethodsFrailty and pre-frailty presence were ascertained using a model including 5 indicators (weakness, slowness, weight loss, low physical activity, and exhaustion); the main employment status was ascertained using self-reported information. The association between frailty and main work was explored using an ordinal logistic regression model and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with their 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). ResultsThe final sample comprised a total of 50,447 individuals (mean age: 64.2 years, females: 50.2 %). Individuals with higher qualifications had a reduced risk of frailty (OR = 0.881, 95%CI = 0.83–0.95, p-value<0.001 for pre-frail and OR = 0.681, 95%CI = 0.63–0.73, p-value<0.001 for frail) compared to those with lower qualifications. Moreover, active participation in the workforce, compared to being inactive, emerged as a protective factor from frailty (OR = 0.753, 95%CI = 0.70–0.81, p-value<0.001). The categories of Associate Professional and Technical Occupations exhibited protective effects against both pre-frailty and frailty. Similarly, occupations categorized as Professional and Management demonstrated protective effects against pre-frailty and frailty when compared to Elementary Occupations. Additionally, engagement in Trades and Services occupations, as opposed to Elementary Occupations, appeared to be protective against frailty. ConclusionsIn this large cross-sectional investigation based on the data of the UK Biobank we found that work during lifetime could be an important factor in determining frailty later in life.