Factors associated with frailty in community-dwelling elderly population. A cross-sectional study - 05/12/16

Doi : 10.1016/j.eurger.2016.09.005

M. Serra-Prat ^a,^⁎ , M. Papiol ^b, J. Vico ^a, E. Palomera ^a, X. Sist ^a, M. Cabré ^c
^a Research Unit, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain
^b Argenona Primary Care Centre, Argentona, Barcelona, Spain
^c Internal Medicine Department, Hospital of Mataró, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

^⁎Corresponding author. Unitat de Recerca, Hospital de Mataró, Carretera de Cirera s/n, 08304 Mataró, Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: +93 741 7 30; fax: +93 757 33 21.

Abstract

Background

Frailty is a major public health problem. Designing effective preventive measures requires an understanding of frailty mechanisms and risk factors.

Objective

To identify the main social, clinical and analytical factors associated with frailty.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional study of community-dwelling individuals aged 75years and older was performed.

Results

One hundred and seventy men and 154 women were recruited (mean age 80.1years). Frailty was associated with age, female sex, educational level, certain comorbidities (osteoarthritis, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, depression, cancer, diabetes, dyspepsia and hypertension), geriatric syndromes, previous falls, pain, number of medications, anorexia, nutritional status, physical activity, muscle mass, obesity, anaemia, kidney function and C-reactive protein. Frailty was not associated with serum levels of ghrelin, testosterone, insulin or IGF-1.

Conclusions

Factors identified as associated with frailty may alert healthcare professionals and help them to identify subjects at risk fragilization. Good control over underlying diseases and pain, rationalizing use of medications, optimizing nutritional status and body weight, promoting physical activity and improving social support may contribute to preventing or even reverting frailty. However, these hypotheses need to be tested.

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Keywords : Frailty, Elderly, Prevention, Functional capacity, Nutritional status, Comorbidities, Pain, Medication