The epidemiology of frailty in urban and rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; a cross-sectional study - 05/11/26
, Celia L. Gregson b, Anya J. Burton b, Farhanah Paruk c, Rita Patel d, Hannah Wilson b, Bavumile Mbanjwa c, Fundile Habana a, Anthony M. Manyara b, Lucy Gates e, Camille M. Pearse e, Chris Grundy f, Kate A. Ward e, Bilkish Cassim a
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
Article gratuit.
Connectez-vous pour en bénéficier!
Highlights |
• | The study prevalence of robust, pre-frailty and frailty was 25.9%, 57.8% and 16.4%, respectively. |
• | Frailty prevalence in mid-life (40-49-years old) was high at 7.5%. |
• | Frailty was associated with a lower health-related quality of life. |
• | Older age, female sex, deprivation, low BMI, and hearing, vision and physical impairments were associated with frailty. |
• | The independent clinical risks factors could be employed to identify high risk individuals for clinical assessment. |
Abstract |
Introduction |
We investigated the prevalence and clinical risk factors associated with frailty, and frailty’s relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in urban and rural South Africa.
Methods |
In a population-based cross-sectional study, using age- and sex-stratified random sampling of adults aged ≥40 years, researcher-administered questionnaires collected socio-demographic and clinical data. Physical assessments included body mass index (BMI), grip strength, short physical performance battery (SPPB), vision and hearing, and EuroQol 5-Dimensions 5-Levels measured HRQoL. A modified Fried’s Frailty Phenotype defined frailty. Multivariable logistic regression calculated the odds of frailty for associated risk factors, and logistic and quantile regression examined HRQoL by frailty status.
Results |
Amongst 1,893 participants, median age 60 years [IQR 50-70], 54% female, the overall study prevalence of frailty was 16.4%. Frailty was more common in those ≥70 years than those 40–49-years old (32.5% vs. 7.5%; OR 6.0 [95%CI 3.7,8.4], p < 0.001), and in females compared to males (19.2% vs. 13.1%; OR 1.6 [1.2,2.0], p < 0.001). Older age (≥60 years), urban residence, low educational attainment, moderate to severe food insecurity, visual and hearing impairments, self-reported disability, BMI < 18kg/m 2 , and impaired SPPB were all independently associated with frailty. Compared to being robust, frailty was associated with a lower HRQoL utility score (median 0.81(IQR 0.71-0.86) in frail vs. 0.86 (0.83-0.90) in robust/prefrail, β -0.05 ([95%CI -0.07,-0.03], p < 0.001).
Conclusion |
Frailty is common and associated with poorer HRQoL. The identified clinical risk factors can be used to prioritise individuals for referral for clinical assessment of frailty in SA.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Frailty, Fried’s frailty phenotype, Health-related quality of life, South Africa, Risk factors
Plan
Vol 15 - N° 6
Article 100229- décembre 2026 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- Midlife physical activity trajectories are associated with reduced physical pre-frailty/frailty in older age: insights from the prospective ATTICA sub-study 2002-2024
- Danai Sgouropoulou, Sofia-Panagiota Giannakopoulou, Evangelia Damigou, Fotios Barkas, Evangelos Liberopoulos, Demosthenes B Panagiotakos, Petros P Sfikakis, Evrydiki Kravvariti
- Intrinsic capacity and risks of disability and mortality in octogenarians: a prospective analysis of two independent Japanese cohorts
- Yusuke Osawa, Takashi Sasaki, Yukiko Abe, Yasumichi Arai
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.