Multimorbidity Patterns, Frailty, and Survival in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background Frailty and multimorbidity are independent prognostic factors for mortality, but their interaction has not been fully explored. We investigated the importance of multimorbidity patterns in older adults with the same level of frailty phenotype. Methods In a cohort of 7,197 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, physical frailty status (robust, pre-frail, frail) was defined using shrinking, exhaustion, inactivity, slowness, and weakness. Latent class analysis was used to identify individuals with multimorbidity patterns based on 10 self-reported chronic conditions. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and incidence rate differences (IRDs) for mortality comparing multimorbidity patterns within each frailty state. Results Five multimorbidity classes were identified: minimal disease (24.7%), cardiovascular disease (29.0%), osteoarticular disease (27.3%), neuropsychiatric disease (8.9%), and high multisystem morbidity (10.0%). Within each frailty state, the mortality rate per 1,000 person-years over 4 years was greatest in the neuropsychiatric class and lowest in the minimal disease class: robust (56.3 vs 15.7; HR, 2.11 [95% CI: 1.05, 4.21]; IRD, 24.1 [95% CI: −11.2, 59.3]), pre-frail (85.3 vs 40.4; HR, 1.74 [95% CI: 1.28, 2.37]; IRD, 27.1 [95% CI: 7.6, 46.7]), and frail (218.1 vs 96.4; HR, 2.05 [95% CI: 1.36, 3.10]; IRD, 108.4 [95% CI: 65.0, 151.9]). Although HRs did not vary widely by frailty, the excess number of deaths, as reflected by IRDs, increased with greater frailty level. Conclusions Considering both multimorbidity patterns and frailty is important for identifying older adults at greater risk of mortality. Of the five patterns identified, the neuropsychiatric class was associated with lower survival across all frailty levels.

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Self-Management Behaviours and Change in Frailty Status among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A National Longitudinal Population-based Cohort Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1171960/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Thi Lien To ◽

Ching-Pyng Kuo ◽

Chih-Jung Yeh ◽

Wen-Chun Liao ◽

Meng-Chih Lee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Self Management ◽

Geriatric Syndrome ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background: Frailty in older adults is a common geriatric syndrome that can be reversed, thus coping strategies for the aging population are essential. Self-management behaviours may represent cost-effective strategies to reverse physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to describe the changes in frailty status among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan and investigate the association of self-management behaviours with changes in frailty status over a four-year follow-up period (2007 to 2011).Methods: This data was retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging (TLSA), which is a prospective cohort study of 1,283 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older without cognitive impairment. Frailty was assessed based on Fried's frailty phenotype, in which ≥ three criteria indicate frail. Self-management behaviours (maintaining body weight, quitting smoking, drinking less, exercising, diet control, and maintaining a regular lifestyle) were assessed using a questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between self-management behaviours and changes in frailty status.Results: The prevalence of frailty was 8.7% at baseline and 8.1% after four years of follow-up, with 196 (15.3%) deaths. Overall, 74.6% of participants remained in the same state (non-frail or frail), 23.5% worsened (non-frail to frail, including missing data, and frail to death), and only 1.95% improved (frail to non-frail). Being aged ≥ 75-years-old, chronic diseases, and an absence of self-management behaviours were associated with higher risks of frailty at baseline and after follow-up. Exercise was significantly associated with a reversal of frailty in community-dwelling older adults (RR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.95, 4.95) after adjusting for personal and disease covariates, regardless of whether death was coded as frail or not.Conclusions: Self-management behaviours beneficially reverse frailty status; maintaining regular exercise was especially associated with a reversal of frailty in community-dwelling older adults, even among individuals over 75-years-old and with chronic diseases. Older adults should be encouraged to perform adequate physical exercise to prevent the progression of frailty and ameliorate frailty status.

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Physical Frailty and Future Costs of Long-Term Care in Older Adults: Results from the NCGG-SGS

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000514679 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Hyuma Makizako ◽

Hiroyuki Shimada ◽

Kota Tsutsumimoto ◽

Keitaro Makino ◽

Sho Nakakubo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Care Needs ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Term Care ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Introduction: Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes, but few studies have determined associations between the frailty phenotype and measures of healthcare burden, including long-term care insurance (LTCI) costs, in older community-dwelling populations. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between frailty status and subsequent LTCI costs in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The prospective data were from a cohort study (National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes [NCGG-SGS]). The participants were community-dwelling older adults (mean age 71.8 years, women 50.7%) participating in an NCGG-SGS baseline examination held between August 2011 and February 2012 in Obu, Japan (N = 4,539). At baseline, we assessed the physical frailty phenotype using the Japanese version of the CHS criteria and categorized it as robust, pre-frail, or frail. We also ascertained care-needs certification and total costs using long-term care services in Japan’s public LTCI system during the 29 months. Results: During the 29-month follow-up period, 239 participants (5.3%) required the LTCI system’s care-needs certification and 163 participants (3.6%) used LTCI services. Participants classified as frail (odds ratio 5.85, 95% confidence interval 3.54–9.66) or pre-frail (2.40, 1.58–3.66) at the baseline assessment had an increased risk of requiring care-needs certification compared with robust participants. The mean total costs for LTCI services during the 29 months were ¥6,434 ($63.1) for robust, ¥19,324 ($189.5) for pre-frail, and ¥147,718 ($1,448.2) for frail participants (1 US dollar = 102 Japanese yen in July 2014). There were significantly higher costs associated with advancing frailty status. Individual frailty components (slowness, weakness, exhaustion, low activity, and weight loss) were also associated with higher total costs for using LTCI services. Discussion/Conclusion: Frail community-dwelling older adults had a higher risk of requiring the LTCI system’s care-needs certification and the subsequent total LTCI costs.

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Effectiveness of Community-Delivered Functional Power Training Program for Frail and Pre-frail Community-Dwelling Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Study

Prevention Science ◽

10.1007/s11121-021-01221-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nien Xiang Tou ◽

Shiou-Liang Wee ◽

Wei Ting Seah ◽

Daniella Hui Min Ng ◽

Benedict Wei Jun Pang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Power Training ◽

Frail Older Adults ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

AbstractTranslation of community-based functional training for older adults to reduce frailty is still lacking. We evaluated the effectiveness and implementation of a community-delivered group-based functional power training (FPT) program for frail older adults within their neighborhoods. A two-arm, multicenter assessor-blind stratified randomized controlled trial was conducted at four local senior activity centers in Singapore. Sixty-one community-dwelling older adults with low handgrip strength were randomized to intervention (IG) or control (CG) group. The IG underwent the FPT program (power and balance exercises using simple equipment) delivered by a community service provider. The 12-week program comprised 2 × 60 min sessions/week. CG continued usual activities at the centers. Functional performance, muscle strength, and frailty status were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Program implementation was evaluated using RE-AIM framework. The program was halted due to Coronavirus Disease 2019-related suspension of senior center activities. Results are reported from four centers, which completed the program. IG showed significantly greater improvement in the Short Physical Performance Battery test as compared to CG (p = 0.047). No effects were found for timed up and go test performance, muscle strength, and frailty status. The community program exhibited good reach, effectiveness, adoption, and implementation. Our study demonstrated that FPT was associated with greater improvement in physical function in pre-frail/frail participants as compared to exercise activities offered at local senior activity centers. It is a feasible intervention that can be successfully implemented for frail older adults in their neighborhoods. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04438876. Registered 19 June 2020–retrospectively registered.

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Dairy Product Intake and Long-Term Risk for Frailty among French Elderly Community Dwellers

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072151 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2151

Author(s):

Berna Rahi ◽

Hermine Pellay ◽

Virginie Chuy ◽

Catherine Helmer ◽

Cecilia Samieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Dairy Product ◽

Food Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Dairy products (DP) are part of a food group that may contribute to the prevention of physical frailty. We aimed to investigate DP exposure, including total DP, milk, fresh DP and cheese, and their cross-sectional and prospective associations with physical frailty in community-dwelling older adults. The cross-sectional analysis was carried out on 1490 participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort. The 10-year frailty risk was examined in 823 initially non-frail participants. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess DP exposure. Physical frailty was defined as the presence of at least 3 out of 5 criteria of the frailty phenotype: weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and low physical activity. Among others, diet quality and protein intake were considered as confounders. The baseline mean age of participants was 74.1 y and 61% were females. Frailty prevalence and incidence were 4.2% and 18.2%, respectively. No significant associations were observed between consumption of total DP or DP sub-types and frailty prevalence or incidence (OR = 1.40, 95%CI 0.65–3.01 and OR = 1.75, 95%CI 0.42–1.32, for a total DP consumption >4 times/d, respectively). Despite the absence of beneficial associations of higher DP consumption on frailty, older adults are encouraged to follow the national recommendations regarding DP.

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Prospective Associations of Physical Frailty With Future Falls and Fear of Falling: A 48-Month Cohort Study

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzab059 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

K Makino ◽

S Lee ◽

S Bae ◽

I Chiba ◽

K Harada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cardiovascular Health Study ◽

Physical Frailty ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objective The present study aimed to examine the prospective associations of physical frailty with future falls and fear of falling (FOF) among community-dwelling older adults. Methods A prospective cohort study with a 48-month follow-up was conducted in a Japanese community. Participants were 2469 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older who completed baseline and follow-up assessments at intervals of 48±2 months. Primary outcomes were recent falls (defined as at least one fall within the past year) and FOF (determined by response to “Are you afraid of falling?”) at follow-up survey. Physical frailty, operationalized by the frailty phenotype (slowness, weakness, exhaustion, weight loss, and low activity) based on the criteria of the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study (J-CHS), was also assessed as a predictor of future falls and FOF. Results Multivariate logistic regression showed that pre-frailty or frailty increase the risk of not only future falls (OR: 1.57; 95%CI = 1.20-2.05) but also FOF (OR: 1.33; 95%CI = 1.05-1.69). In addition, the relationship between baseline frailty status and future falls remained significant after adjusting for baseline FOF (OR: 1.55; 95%CI = 1.19-2.02), and the relationship between baseline frailty status and future FOF also remained significant after adjusting for baseline falls (OR: 1.32; 95%CI = 1.04-1.68). Conclusions Frailty status may predict future falls and FOF among community-dwelling older adults. Strategies to prevent frailty may be beneficial to prevent not only future falls but also future FOF in a community setting. Impact Falls and FOF have a close relationship but a different clinical meaning. Older adults with physical frailty may require monitoring as high-risk not only for falls but also for FOF.

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Prevalence and Multidimensional Risk Factors of Physical Frailty in Korean Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

10.20944/preprints202009.0423.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heeeun Jung ◽

Miji Kim ◽

Yunhwan Lee ◽

Chang Won Won

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Glycosylated Hemoglobin ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

National Standard ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Frailty is defined as a state of increased vulnerability to stressors, and it predicts the disability and mortality in the older population. This study aimed to investigate standardized prevalence and multidimensional risk factors associated with frailty among the Korean community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed the baseline data of 2,907 adults aged 70–84 years (mean age 75.8±3.9 years, 57.8% women) in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The Fried frailty phenotype was used to define frailty. Analyzed data included sociodemographic, physical, physical function, biological, lifestyle, health condition, medical condition, psychological, and social domains. Data were standardized using the national standard population composition ratio based on the Korean Population and Housing Census. The standardized prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty was 7.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.8–8.9%) and 57.2% (95% CI 45.1–48.8%), respectively. The following 14 risk factors had a significant association with frailty: at risk of malnutrition, sarcopenia, severe mobility limitation, poor social capital, rural dwellers, depressive, poor self-perceived health, polypharmacy, elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, elevated glycosylated hemoglobin, low 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, longer timed up and go, and low short physical performance battery score (p<0.05). Physico-nutritional, psychological, sociodemographic, and medical factors are strongly associated with frailty.

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Association of Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure With All-Cause Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Prospective Observational Study

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/08982643211055245 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089826432110552

Author(s):

Qian Lian ◽

Tazeen H. Jafar ◽

John C. Allen ◽

Stefan Ma ◽

Rahul Malhotra

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Representative Study ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Objectives To assess the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with mortality among older adults in Singapore. Methods Association of SBP and DBP measured in 2009 for 4443 older adults (69.5±7.4 years; 60–97 years) participating in a nationally representative study with mortality risk through end-December 2015 was assessed using Cox regression. Results Higher mortality risk was observed at the lower and upper extremes of SBP and DBP. With SBP of 100–119 mmHg as the reference, multivariable mortality hazard ratios [HRs (95% confidence interval)] were SBP <100 mmHg: 2.41 (1.23–4.72); SBP 160–179 mmHg: 1.51 (1.02–2.22); and SBP ≥180 mmHg: 1.78 (1.12–2.81). With DBP of 70–79 mmHg as the reference, HRs were DBP <50 mmHg: 2.41 (1.28–4.54) and DBP ≥110 mmHg: 2.16 (1.09–4.31). Discussion Management of high blood pressure among older adults will likely reduce their mortality risk. However, the association of excessively low SBP and DBP values with mortality risk needs further evaluation.

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Abstract P411: Longitudinal Association Between Frailty and Arterial Stiffness in Community-dwelling Older Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.141.suppl_1.p411 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Alvin G Thomas ◽

Anna Kucharska-Newton ◽

Jingkai Wei ◽

Priya Palta ◽

Sheila Burgard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Arterial Stiffening ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Loss To Follow Up ◽

Frailty Status ◽

Longitudinal Association ◽

Aortic Stiffening

Introduction: Frailty is predictive of cardiovascular disease and is suggested to co-occur with arterial stiffening, the hallmark of vascular aging. However, the temporal relationship is uncertain. Using the ARIC study, we examine the association of baseline frailty with cross-sectional and 5-year change in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in older adults. Methods: Participants at visit 5 (2011-2013) were classified as frail (≥3 criteria), prefrail (1-2 criteria), or robust using the Fried frailty phenotype criteria (unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, slow walking speed, and low physical activity). We measured cfPWV at visits 5 and 6/7 (2016-2019). We used linear regression with inverse-probability of attrition weights to estimate the association between frailty and 5-year change in cfPWV while accounting for loss-to-follow-up among survivors. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race-center, mean arterial pressure, height, heart rate, smoking, and time between visits. Results: Of 5,096 participants at visit 5 (58% female, 21% black, mean age 75 [SD 5.1] years), 296 (6%) were frail and 2403 (47%) prefrail. In adjusted analyses at visit 5, frail participants had 30 cm/s (95% CI: -9, 69; p=0.1) higher cfPWV and prefrail participants had 12 cm/s (95% CI: -5, 30; p=0.2) higher cfPWV than those classified as robust (Table 1). In longitudinal analyses adjusted for attrition, we observed a 3 cm/s (95% CI: -11, 19; p=0.6) and 6 cm/s (95% CI: 0, 12; p=0.05) greater annualized increase in cfPWV over ~5 years among frail and prefrail participants, respectively, relative to the rate of arterial stiffening among robust participants (26 cm/s per year). Conclusions: Compared to robust older adults, greater aortic stiffness was observed among frail community-dwelling adults. Changes in aortic stiffening over the course of 5 years were not materially influenced by frailty status at baseline. Frail older adults may present with greater arterial aging and its associated hemodynamic effects on target organs.

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Relationship Between Frailty and Depression Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Social Support

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa072 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (8) ◽

pp. 1466-1475 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yaru Jin ◽

Huaxin Si ◽

Xiaoxia Qiao ◽

Xiaoyu Tian ◽

Xinyi Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives Frailty is associated with depression in older adults and reduces their social support. However, the mechanism underlying such relationship remains unclear. We aim to examine whether social support acts as a mediator or moderator in the relationship between frailty and depression. Research Design and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,779 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 and older. Frailty, social support, and depressive symptoms were measured by the Physical Frailty Phenotype, Social Support Rating Scale, and five-item Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Data were also collected on age, gender, years of schooling, monthly income, cognitive function, number of chronic diseases, physical function, and pain. Results Linear regression models showed that subjective support and support utilization, but not objective support, mediated and moderated the relationship between frailty and depressive symptoms. The Johnson–Neyman technique determined a threshold of 30 for subjective support, but not for support utilization, beyond which the detrimental effect of frailty on depressive symptoms was offset. Discussion and Implications Social support underlies the association of frailty with depression, and its protective role varies by type. Interventions on depression should address improving perceptions and utilization of social support among frail older adults rather than simply providing them with objective support.

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Prevalence of Physical Frailty and Its Multidimensional Risk Factors in Korean Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17217883 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (21) ◽

pp. 7883

Author(s):

Heeeun Jung ◽

Miji Kim ◽

Yunhwan Lee ◽

Chang Won Won

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Medical Condition ◽

Glycosylated Hemoglobin ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

National Standard ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Frailty Phenotype ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Frailty is defined as a state of increased vulnerability to stressors, and it predicts disability and mortality in the older population. This study aimed to investigate the standardized prevalence and multidimensional risk factors associated with frailty among Korean community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed the baseline data of 2907 adults aged 70–84 years (mean age 75.8 ± 3.9 years, 57.8% women) in the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The Fried frailty phenotype was used to define frailty. Analyzed data included sociodemographic, physical, physical function, biological, lifestyle, health condition, medical condition, psychological, and social domains. Data were standardized using the national standard population composition ratio based on the Korean Population and Housing Census. The standardized prevalence of frailty and prefrailty was 7.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.8–8.9%) and 47.0% (95% CI, 45.1–48.8%), respectively. The following 14 risk factors were significantly associated with frailty: at risk of malnutrition, sarcopenia, severe mobility limitation, poor social capital, rural dwellers, depressive symptoms, poor self-perceived health, polypharmacy, elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, elevated glycosylated hemoglobin, low 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, longer Timed Up and Go, and low Short Physical Performance Battery score (p < 0.05). Physiconutritional, psychological, sociodemographic, and medical factors are strongly associated with frailty.

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