Mean Frailty Index Research Articles

The association of frailty with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in older adults: a nationally representative sample.

Olfaction and gustation are associated with age-related decline. Deficits in these chemosenses have been associated with significant comorbidities. Meanwhile, frailty, defined as a reduced physiological reserve, is well correlated with mortality and worse health outcomes. We sought to analyze a nationally representative patient population to determine the association between chemosensory dysfunction and frailty. Cross-sectional analysis of U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 was performed, using multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between chemosensory dysfunction and frailty in adults aged ≥40 years (n = 3547). Self-reported olfactory dysfunction (sOD) and gustatory dysfunction (sGD), and measured olfactory dysfunction (mOD) and gustatory dysfunction (mGD) were assessed for all participants. Frailty was operationalized using a 39-item frailty index (FI) and stratified into 4 groups using validated cutoffs. Participants with sOD and mOD had significantly higher mean FI scores (sOD: 0.18 vs 0.13, p < 0.001; mOD: 0.20 vs 0.14, p < 0.001), whereas subjects with sGD, but not mGD, had higher mean FI scores (sGD: 0.21 vs 0.13, p < 0.001; mGD: 0.14 vs 0.14, p = 0.953). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated frail participants had significantly greater odds of sGD (odds ratio [OR] 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.46 to 4.88), sOD (OR 2.35; 95% CI, 1.98 to 2.78), and mOD (OR 1.58; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.05), but not mGD (OR 1.21; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.61). This association was strongest in the frailest group. Self-reported chemosensory dysfunction and mOD are independently associated with measures of frailty, suggesting a novel method to assess or predict frailty.

An interRAI-derived frailty index is associated with prior hospitalisations in older adults residing in retirement villages.

To develop and validate a frailty index (FI) from interRAI-Community Health Assessments (CHA) on older adults in retirement villages (RVs). This is a cross-sectional analysis of a current RV research study. A FI was generated using the cumulative deficit model. Health-care utilisation measures were acute, and all, hospitalisations 12months before baseline assessment. Associations between FI and hospitalisations were explored using multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratio (OR). Of 577 included residents, mean (SD) age was 81 (7) and 419 (73%) were female. Mean (SD) FI was 0.16 (0.09); 260 (45%) were mildly frail, and 108 (19%) moderate-severely frail. In multivariate-adjusted analysis, odds of acute hospitalisation for mild (OR=3.3, P<.001) and moderate-severely frail (OR=6.4, P<.001) were significantly higher than fit residents. Higher odds were also observed for all hospitalisations. A considerable proportion of RV residents were moderately-severely frail. FI was associated with acute and all hospitalisations.

Frailty of Māori, Pasifika, and Non-Māori/Non-Pasifika Older People in New Zealand: A National Population Study of Older People Referred for Home Care Services.

Little is known about the prevalence of frailty in indigenous populations. We developed a frailty index (FI) for older New Zealand Māori and Pasifika who require publicly funded support services. An FI was developed for New Zealand adults aged 65 and older who had an interRAI Home Care assessment between June 1, 2012 and October 30, 2015. A frailty score for each participant was calculated by summing the number of deficits recorded and dividing by the total number of possible deficits. This created a FI with a potential range from 0 to 1. Linear regression models for FIs with ethnicity were adjusted for age and sex. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between the FI and mortality for Māori, Pasifika, and non-Māori/non-Pasifika. Of 54 345 participants, 3096 (5.7%) identified as Māori, 1846 (3.4%) were Pasifika, and 49 415 (86.7%) identified as neither Māori nor Pasifika. New Zealand Europeans (48 178, 97.5%) constituted most of the latter group. Within each sex, the mean FIs for Māori and Pasifika were greater than the mean FIs for non-Māori and non-Pasifika, with the difference being more pronounced in women. The FI was associated with mortality (Māori subhazard ratio [SHR] 2.53, 95% CI 1.63-3.95; Pasifika SHR 6.03, 95% CI 3.06-11.90; non-Māori and non-Pasifika SHR 2.86, 95% CI 2.53-3.25). This study demonstrated differences in FI between the ethnicities in this select cohort. After adjustment for age and sex, increases in FI were associated with increased mortality. This suggests that FI is predictive of poor outcomes in these ethnic groups.

Accuracy of diagnosis and health service codes in identifying frailty in Medicare data

BackgroundCapturing frailty within administrative claims data may help to identify high-risk patients and inform population health management strategies. Although it is common to ascertain frailty status utilizing claims-based surrogates (e.g. diagnosis and health service codes) selected according to clinical knowledge, the accuracy of this approach has not yet been examined. We evaluated the accuracy of claims-based surrogates against two clinical definitions of frailty.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in a Health and Retirement Study subsample of 3097 participants, aged 65 years or older and with at least 12-months of continuous fee-for-service Medicare enrollment. We defined 18 previously utilized claims-based surrogates of frailty from Medicare data and evaluated each against clinical reference standards, ascertained from a direct examination: a deficit accumulation frailty index (FI) (range: 0–1) and frailty phenotype. We also compared the accuracy of the total count of 18 claims-based surrogates with that of a validated claims-based FI model, comprised of 93 claims-based variables.Results19% of participants met clinical criteria for the clinical frailty phenotype. The mean clinical FI for our sample was 0.20 (standard deviation 0.13). Hospital Beds and associated supplies was the claims-based surrogate associated with the highest clinical FI (mean FI 0.49). Claims-based surrogates had low sensitivity ranging from 0.01 (cachexia, adult failure to thrive, anorexia) to 0.38 (malaise and fatigue) and high specificity ranging from 0.79 (malaise and fatigue) to 0.99 (cachexia, adult failure to thrive, anorexia) in discriminating the clinical frailty phenotype. Compared with a validated claims-based FI, the total count of claims-based surrogates demonstrated lower Spearman correlation with the clinical FI (0.41 [95% CI 0.38–0.44] versus 0.59 [95% CI, 0.56–0.61]) and poorer discrimination of the frailty phenotype (C-statistics 0.68 [95% CI, 0.66–0.70] versus 0.75 [95% CI, 0.73–0.77]).ConclusionsClaims-based surrogates, selected according to clinical knowledge, do not accurately capture frailty in Medicare claims data. A simple count of claims-based surrogates improves accuracy but remains inferior to a claims-based FI model.

Frailty among middle-aged and older Canadians: population norms for the frailty index using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

frailty is a public health priority now that the global population is ageing at a rapid rate. A scientifically sound tool to measure frailty and generate population-based reference values is a starting point. in this report, our objectives were to operationalize frailty as deficit accumulation using a standard frailty index (FI), describe levels of frailty in Canadians ≥45years old and provide national normative data. this is a secondary analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) baseline data. about 51,338 individuals (weighted to represent 13,232,651 Canadians), aged 45-85years, from the tracking and comprehensive cohorts of CLSA. after screening all available variables in the pooled dataset, 52 items were selected to construct an FI. Descriptive statistics for the FI and normative data derived from quantile regressions were developed. the average age of the participants was 60.3years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 60.2-60.5), and 51.5% were female (95% CI: 50.8-52.2). The mean FI score was 0.07 (95% CI: 0.07-0.08) with a standard deviation of 0.06. Frailty was higher among females and with increasing age, and scores >0.2 were present in 4.2% of the sample. National normative data were identified for each year of age for males and females. the standardized frailty tool and the population-based normative frailty values can help inform discussions about frailty, setting a new bar in the field. Such information can be used by clinicians, researchers, stakeholders and the general public to understand frailty, especially its relationship with age and sex.

Development and validation of a frailty index based on Australian Aged Care Assessment Program data.

To develop and validate a frailty index, derived from aged care eligibility assessment data. Retrospective cohort study; analysis of the historical national cohort of the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA). 903996 non-Indigenous Australians aged 65 years or more, living in the community and assessed for subsidised aged care eligibility during 2003-2013. 44-item frailty index; summary statistics for frailty index score distribution; predictive validity with respect to mortality and entry into permanent residential aged care during the five years after assessment. The mean frailty index score during 2003-2013 was 0.20 (SD, 0.07; range, 0-0.41); the proportion of assessed older people with scores exceeding 0.20 increased from 32.1% in 2003-2005 to 75.0% in 2012-2013. The risks of death and entry into permanent residential aged care at one, three and five years increased with frailty index score level (at one year, high [over 0.35] v low scores [under 0.05]: hazard ratio for death, 5.99; 95% CI, 5.69-6.31; for entry into permanent residential aged care, 8.70; 95% CI, 8.32-9.11). The predictive validity (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of Cox proportional hazard models including age, sex, and frailty index score was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.63-0.64) for death and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.62-0.63) for entry into permanent residential aged care within one year of assessment. We used Australian aged care eligibility assessment program data to construct and validate a frailty index. It can be employed in aged care research in Australia, but its application to aged care planning requires further investigation.

Comorbidities in Older Persons with Controlled HIV Infection: Correlations with Frailty Index Subtypes.

Frailty is prevalent in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but factors predisposing older PWH to frailty remain uncertain. We examined factors associated with frailty and determined whether there were multiple frailty subtypes in older adults with controlled HIV infection. This was a cross-sectional outpatient study in an urban HIV clinic. Twenty-nine clinical indicators were extracted from medical records to compute a Frailty Index (FI) for 389 older (age 50+) PWH (range = 50-93; mean = 61.1, standard deviation = 7.2; 85% men) receiving HIV treatment in Calgary, Canada. We used regressions to identify factors associated with FI values. Latent class analysis was used to identify FI subtypes. Age, employment status, and duration of known HIV infection were the strongest predictors of FI (p's < 0.05). Four FI subtypes were identified. Subtype 1 (severe metabolic dysfunction+polypharmacy) had the highest mean FI (0.30). Subtype 2 (less severe metabolic dysfunction+polypharmacy) and Subtype 3 (lung and liver dysfunction+polypharmacy) had lower but equivalent mean FIs (0.20 for each). Subtype 4 (least severe metabolic dysfunction) had the lowest mean FI (0.13; p's < 0.001). Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics differed among the subtypes. Individuals with Subtype 1 were older and more frequently unemployed/retired, whereas those with Subtype 3 were more likely to smoke, use crack/cocaine, have heavy alcohol use, and live in temporary/unstable housing. The clinical presentation of frailty in older PWH is heterogeneous. The metabolic syndrome, hepatitis C virus coinfection, cirrhosis, lung disease, and polypharmacy were associated with frailty as were unemployment/retirement, unstable housing, and substance use.

Effect of various exercises on frailty among older adults with subjective cognitive concerns: a randomised controlled trial.

Physical exercise has been linked to reduced frailty, but there is insufficient evidence of beneficial effects in community-dwelling older adults with subjective cognitive concerns. This study aimed to clarify the effects of physical exercise in this population. Single-blind randomised controlled trial. Community sports centres. Residents aged 65-85years were screened using the Kihon checklist; those with subjective cognitive concerns were invited for eligibility assessment. In total, 415 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled and randomised. This trial investigated the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT) and combined training (AT+RT) programs on reducing frailty. All participants were randomised into one of the three intervention groups or the control group. Participants in the intervention groups underwent a group training program and self-paced home training for 26weeks. The control group received lectures about health promotion. A 95-item frailty index (FI) was utilised to determine the effects of training. Participants were followed up at weeks 26 and 52. At baseline, mean age of all participants (47% women) was 72.3 ± 4.6years, with a mean FI score of 0.3 ± 0.1. Compared with control group, AT improved total FI by 0.020 (CI -0.039 to -0.001, effect size -0.275) and the depression and anxiety component of FI by 0.051 (CI -0.084 to -0.018, effect size -0.469) at week 26, but the effects waned at week 52. No significant differences in FI were found in RT and AT+RT groups at weeks 26 and 52. A 26-week AT reduced frailty modestly, especially in the depression and anxiety component, in older adults with subjective cognitive concerns.

The prevalence and importance of frailty in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction-an analysis of PARADIGM-HF and ATMOSPHERE.

Frailty, characterized by loss of homeostatic reserves and increased vulnerability to physiological decompensation, results from an aggregation of insults across multiple organ systems. Frailty can be quantified by counting the number of 'health deficits' across a range of domains. We assessed the frequency of, and outcomes related to, frailty in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Using a cumulative deficits approach, we constructed a 42-item frailty index (FI) and applied it to identify frail patients enrolled in two HFrEF trials (PARADIGM-HF and ATMOSPHERE). In keeping with previous studies, patients with FI ≤0.210 were classified as non-frail and those with higher scores were divided into two categories using score increments of 0.100. Clinical outcomes were examined, adjusting for prognostic variables. Among 13 625 participants, mean (± standard deviation) FI was 0.250 (0.10) and 8383 patients (63%) were frail (FI >0.210). The frailest patients were older and had more symptoms and signs of heart failure. Women were frailer than men. All outcomes were worse in the frailest, with high rates of all-cause death or all-cause hospitalization: 40.7 (39.1-42.4) vs. 22.1 (21.2-23.0) per 100 person-years in the non-frail; adjusted hazard ratio 1.63 (1.53-1.75) (P < 0.001). The rate of all-cause hospitalizations, taking account of recurrences, was 61.5 (59.8-63.1) vs. 31.2 (30.3-32.2) per 100 person-years (incidence rate ratio 1.76; 1.62-1.90; P < 0.001). Frailty is highly prevalent in HFrEF and associated with greater deterioration in quality of life and higher risk of hospitalization and death. Strategies to prevent and treat frailty are needed in HFrEF.

Cognitive Screening in Geriatric Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Evaluated for Falls.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. This study investigates whether the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) detects more cognitive decline than the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) in patients with AF. Secondary aims were to assess the rate of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and mesotemporal atrophy (MTA) in patients with AF. Observational cohort study. Patients of 65 years and older that visited the Fall and Syncope Clinic were eligible. Patients were included if both a MoCA and MMSE were completed. In patients of whom an MRI was performed WMH were assessed with the Fazekas score and MTA was assessed with the MTA score. To assess frailty a Frailty Index (FI) was calculated. 428 patients were included. Mean age was 80 years, 66% was female. The mean FI was 0.28 (CI 0.11 to 0.45), indicative of severe frailty. In 90 patients AF was known and in 9 patients it was first diagnosed, overall prevalence 23%. Cognitive impairment was found with the MoCA in 80% of patients with persistent AF, versus in 33% with the MMSE. Patients with paroxysmal AF had more WMH than patients with SR (p 0.04). No differences were found in relevant MTA between patients with AF or SR. Cognitive decline in patients with AF is better detected using the MoCA than the MMSE. This means that in daily clinical practice, the MOCA should be used instead of the MMSE for patients with AF.

Sensor-Based Frailty Assessment in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Survivors of childhood cancer (CCS) are at risk for early aging and frailty. Frailty in CCS has been assessed with established clinical criteria, a time-intensive approach requiring specialized training. There is an unmet need for cost-effective, rapid methods for assessing frailty in at-risk adolescent and young adult (AYA) CCS, which are scalable to large populations. To validate a sensor-based frailty assessment tool in AYA CCS, compare frailty status between CCS and controls, and assess the correlation between frailty and number of CCS comorbidities. Mean frailty index (MFI) was assessed by a frailty wrist sensor in 32 AYA CCS who were ≥1 year off therapy and in remission. Results were compared with 32 AYA controls without cancer or chronic disease. Frailty assessments with and without a simultaneous cognitive task were performed to obtain MFI. Results were compared between cases and controls using a Student t test, and the number of pre-frail/frail subjects by Chi Square test. The contribution of radiation therapy (RT) exposure to MFI was assessed in a sub-analysis, and the correlation between the number of comorbidities and MFI was measured using the Pearson method. MFI was strongly correlated with gait speed in AYA CCS. CCS were more likely to be pre-frail than controls without cancer history (p=0.032), and CCS treated with RT were more likely to be pre-frail than CCS not treated with RT (p<0.001). The number of comorbidities was strongly correlated with MFI (ρ=0.65), with a 0.028 increase in MFI for each added condition (p<0.001). Results from this study support higher risk for frailty among CCS, especially those with multiple comorbidities or who were treated with RT. A wrist-worn sensor-based method is feasible for application in AYA CCS, and provides an opportunity for cost-effective, rapid screening of at-risk AYA CCS who may benefit from early interventions.

Residential Greenness and Frailty Among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Cohort in China

ObjectivesFrailty is an accumulation of deficits characterized by reduced resilience to stressors and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. There is evolving evidence on the health benefits of residential greenness, but little is known about its impact on frailty. DesignA longitudinal cohort study. Setting and participantsWe included older adults aged ≥65 years from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) with a 12-year follow-up. MethodsWe assessed residential greenness by calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in the 500 m radius around participants' residence. We used 39 self-reported health items to construct a frailty index (FI) as a proportion of accumulated deficits. We defined an FI of ≤0.21 as nonfrail and prefrail, and an FI of >0.21 as frail. We used the mixed effects logistic regression models to examine the association between residential greenness and frailty, adjusted for a number of covariates. ResultsWe had 16,238 participants, with a mean age of 83.0 years (standard deviation: 11.5). The mean baseline NDVI and FI were 0.40, and 0.12, respectively. Compared to the participants living in the lowest quartile of residential greenness, those in the highest quartile had a 14% [odds ratio (OR): 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77, 0.97] lower odds of frailty. The association was stronger among urban vs rural residents. Additionally, each 0.1-unit increase in annual average NDVI was related to a 2% higher odds of improvement in the frailty status (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.04). Conclusions and ImplicationsOur study suggests that higher levels of residential greenness are related to a lower likelihood of frailty, specifically in urban areas.

An Emerging Concern-High Rates of Frailty among Middle-aged and Older Individuals Living with HIV.

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to calculate a frailty index (FI) in older adults (≥50) living with HIV, search for cross-sectional associations with the FI, and investigate the association between the FI score and two-year mortality.MethodsCross-sectional study with a short-term prospective component for the determination of two-year mortality was performed. The study took place in an HIV outpatient clinic in Calgary, Canada between November 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018. Over 700 patients 50 years of age or older took part. We calculated a FI for each patient, examined associations between FI and select patient characteristics, and evaluated the association between FI value and two-year mortality.ResultsThe mean FI was 0.303 (± 0.128). Mean FI did not differ between males and females, nor was it associated with either nadir or current CD4 cell count. It did increase with age, duration of ART, and duration of diagnosed HIV infection. Mean FI was higher among those who died compared to survivors (0.351 vs. 0.301; p=.033).ConclusionsFrailty is highly prevalent in persons living with HIV and associated with a higher mortality rate. Health-care providers should be aware of the earlier occurrence of frailty in adults living with HIV.

Sex differences in the relative heterogeneity of frailty in relation to age, frailty, health protection, and five-year mortality.

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that the relative heterogeneity of frailty declines with increases in age and the level of the frailty index (FI). In this study, we investigated the sex difference in the relative heterogeneity of frailty and its response to health‐protective factors, in a Chinese community sample.MethodsData used for this secondary analysis were obtained from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging that involved 3257 community‐dwelling Chinese people aged 55 years and older at baseline. An FI was constructed for each indicial using 35 variables assessing health‐related problems. A protection index (PI) consisting of 27 variables assessing lifestyle and social engagement was also built. The relative heterogeneity of frailty, as measured by the coefficient of variation (CV) of the FI, was calculated as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean FI for different age, FI, and PI groups, and for the five‐year survival status.ResultsThe CV decreased with the increase in age (F = 20.60, P = .006) and the FI (F = 57.59, P = .001), consistent in both sexes. In each age group, the CV was higher in men than in women (t = 3.25, P = .018). A great level of protection was associated with a significantly reduced mortality, and an increased CV (t = 2.91, P = .027).ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that a gender difference exists in the relative heterogeneity of frailty, which is negatively related to age and frailty as well as positively associated with health protection and the five‐year survival.

AM I FRAIL, LOVE? YES, I SUPPOSE I AM: WHAT 10 OLDER PEOPLE CAN TELL US ABOUT LIVING WITH FRAILTY

We sought to explore what matters in later life with frailty from an older persons perspective. Between March and May 2018, we recruited ten people, purposively sampled from the CARE75+ ageing cohort study. Interviews took place at the participant’s own home in two sittings, each 45 minutes long. Interviews were semi-structured, used narrative techniques based on a topic guide developed with a patient representative. We used systematic analysis of the narrative experience to identify meaning in the context of an individual’s time, space and history. Participants had a mean age of 84 years (range 77 to 93), half were women, and three were interviewed with their care-givers. All had moderate or severe frailty: mean frailty index 0.36 (range 0.25 to 0.47); mean Fried score 4 (range 3 -5). Half knew hunger as children; most grew up in large families and left school early; two survived TB in early life; all lived through or were affected by war. The term frailty was: never voluntarily used; described negatively and in value laden terms; seen better in others than themselves. Decision making was best delegated to doctors who knew you and your family over time. Narratives focused on health events of a spouse; symptoms featured more than diagnoses. Survivorship, reciprocity and community were sustaining values. To engage elders in shared decision making we learnt to consider influences of cohort, of people closest to them; and to describe rather than declare someone to be frail, in terms that are real to them.

HAS FRAILTY SCORE AND FRAILTY LETHALITY CHANGED OVER TIME? HARMONIZATION OF NHANES COHORTS FROM 1999 TO 2016

Positive advances in life expectancy, healthcare access and medical technology have been accompanied by an increased prevalence of chronic diseases and substantial population ageing. How this impacts changes in both frailty level and subsequent mortality in recent decades are not well understood. We aimed to investigate how these factors changed over an 18-year period. Nine waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2016) were harmonized to create a 46-item frailty index (FI) using self-reported and laboratory-based health deficits. Individuals aged 20+ were included in analyses (n=44086). Mortality was ascertained in December 2015. Weighted multilevel models estimated the effect of cohort on FI score in 10-year age-stratified groups. Cox proportional hazard models estimated if two or four-year mortality risk of frailty changed across the 1999-2012 cohorts. Mean FI score was 0.11±0.10. In the five older age groups (>40 years), later cohorts had higher frailty levels than did earlier cohorts. For example, in people aged 80+, each subsequent cohort had an estimated 0.007 (95%CI: 0.005, 0.009) higher FI score. However, in those aged 20-29, later cohorts had lower frailty [β=-0.0009 (-0.0013, -0.0005)]. Hazard ratios and cohort-frailty interactions indicated that there was no change in two or four-year lethality of FI score over time (i.e. two-year mortality: HR of 1.069 (1.055, 1.084) in 1999-2000 vs 1.061 (1.044, 1.077) in 2011-2012). Higher frailty levels in the most recent years in middle and older aged adults combined with unchanged frailty lethality suggests that the degree of frailty may continue to increase.

FRAILTY IN HEALTHY OLDEST OLD: CHARACTERIZING THE FRAILTY INDEX OF SUPER-SENIORS

People at advanced ages often have multiple comorbidities and high frailty. We characterized frailty in “Super-Seniors”, individuals 85 or older who have never been diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular or lung disease, diabetes or dementia. Super-Seniors were enrolled in the Vancouver Healthy Aging Study that consisted of Phase1 (2004-2007; n=486; age=88.6±3.1 years; female=67.5%) and Phase2 (2014-2019; n=167; age=89.2±3.8 years; female=65.3%). A frailty index (FI) that assesses the accumulation of health deficits was calculated as the proportion of deficits present over those considered (here, 30). The FI distribution patterns, mean, median, 99% limit values, relationship to age, and sex differences were analyzed. The FI of Super-Seniors is right-skewed, with a mean of 0.19±0.09 (median=0.17; limit=0.54) in Phase1 and 0.22±0.08 (median=0.21; limit=0.47) in Phase2. Most Super-Seniors (79% and 61% in Phases 1 and 2) had ≤8 of the 30 deficits; FI≤0.24. The FI increased with age (r’s=0.29 and 0.24); women showed a higher mean FI than men. Data demonstrated the known and consistent characteristics of the FI. The Super-Seniors, who are healthier than the general population of oldest old, have a significantly lower FI that is more typical of individuals aged about 65. The low FI of these healthy oldest old is consistent with their health and high physical and cognitive function, and underscores their suitability for study as a healthy aged group. Further research will investigate how the FI of Super-Seniors is related to lifestyle and genetic factors and health outcomes.

P152. The effect of frailty on outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Frailty, defined as a state of decreased reserve and susceptibility to external stressors, has previously been shown to negatively effect postoperative outcome in an elective spine surgery population. PURPOSE This study sought to determine the effect of frailty on patient outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). STUDY DESIGN/SETTING This prospective cohort study took place at a single quaternary spinal referral center. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 634 patients. OUTCOME MEASURES Inpatient length of stay, in-hospital mortality, adverse events. METHODS All patients with tSCI were identified in our prospectively collected database from 2007-2016. Analysis was conducted to examine correlations between patient age, total motor score (TMS) on admission, and mFI on patient outcome variables including acute length of stay (LOS), number of adverse events (AEs) and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS Bivariate analysis revealed multiple statistically significant associations. mFI was a strong predictor of increased acute LOS (corr =0.163; p 65 years. Mean frailty index was not predictive of acute LOS (p=0.1533), number of AEs (p=0.2337) or in-hospital mortality (p=0.6593). Age at injury was not predictive of acute LOS (p=0.0571), however remained significant for number of AEs (p=0.0058), and in-hospital mortality (p CONCLUSIONS Age, mFI and TMS on admission are important determinants of outcome in patients with tSCI. Furthermore, frailty score is predictive of outcome in the general tSCI population, but not in the elderly. This suggests that younger, “frail” individuals have significantly poorer outcomes than young, healthy individuals, however the inter-relationship between advanced age and decreased physiologic reserve is not as clear. Identification of frailty in a younger population as a pre-injury risk factor may be useful for perioperative optimization, risk stratification and patient counseling. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Pre-Stroke Frailty Is Independently Associated With Post-Stroke Cognition: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment is common, but mechanisms and risk factors are poorly understood. Frailty may be an important risk factor for cognitive impairment after stroke. We investigated the association between pre-stroke frailty and acute post-stoke cognition. We studied consecutively admitted acute stroke patients in a single urban teaching hospital during three recruitment waves between May 2016 and December 2017. Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (min=0; max=12). A Frailty Index was used to generate frailty scores for each patient (min=0; max=100). Clinical and demographic information were collected, including pre-stroke cognition, delirium, and stroke-severity. We conducted univariate and multiple-linear regression analyses with covariates forced in (covariates included were: age, sex, stroke severity, stroke-type, pre-stroke cognitive impairment, delirium, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack) to investigate the association between pre-stroke frailty and post-stroke cognition. Complete data were available for 154 stroke patients. Mean age was 68 years (SD=11; range=32-97); 93 (60%) were male. Median mini-Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 8 (IQR=4-12). Mean Frailty Index score was 18 (SD=11). Pre-stroke cognitive impairment was apparent in 13/154 (8%) patients. Pre-stroke frailty was significantly associated with lower post-stroke cognition (Standardized-Beta=-0.40; p&lt;0.001) and this association was independent of covariates (Unstandardized-Beta=-0.05; p=0.005). Additional significant variables in the multiple regression model were age (Unstandardized-Beta=-0.05; p=0.002), delirium (Unstandardized-Beta=-2.81; p&lt;0.001), pre-stroke cognitive impairment (Unstandardized-Beta=-2.28; p=0.001), and stroke-severity (Unstandardized-Beta=-0.20; p&lt;0.001). Pre-stroke frailty may be a moderator of post-stroke cognition, independent of other well-established post-stroke cognitive impairment risk factors. (JINS, 2019, 25, 501-506).

Physical Frailty Correlates With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Caregiver Burden in Alzheimer's Disease.

The aim of this study was to clarify the association of physical frailty with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and caregiver burden in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The subjects were 1,193 AD patients who presented to the Memory Clinic at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology of Japan during the period from October 2010 to February 2015 (mean ± SD age = 78.8 ± 6.3 years; female, 68.6%). AD was diagnosed based on the criteria of the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association workgroups. The Frailty Index (FI) was calculated as the ratio of actual to 38 potential deficits. BPSD and caregiver burden were assessed by using the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBD) and the Japanese version of Zarit Burden Interview (J-ZBI). Multiple linear regression analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed to examine the relationship between the FI, DBD, and J-ZBI. The subjects' mean FI score was 0.16 ± 0.10, with 663 (55.6%) and 198 (16.6%) subjects shown to be pre-frail (0.08 ≤ FI < 0.25) and frail (FI ≥ 0.25), respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses and SEM showed that the FI was independently associated with both DBD (β = 0.30, P < .001) and J-ZBI (β = 0.13, P < .001). Moreover, when the FI was considered as a categorical variable, even pre-frailty was associated with increased DBD score (β = 0.16, P < .001) and J-ZBI score (β = 0.09, P = .003). The presence of not only physical frailty but also pre-frailty, as determined by the FI, could increase BPSD and caregiver burden in patients with AD.