Frailty prevalence and related factors in older adults from southern Brazil: A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of frailty and the association of sociodemographic characteristics, clinical aspects, and functional capacity with the frailty status of community-dwelling older adults from Curitiba, Southern Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 1,716 participants aged X60 years. Frailty was assessed using the Fried phenotype indicators of weakness, exhaustion, low activity, slowness, and weight loss. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical aspects, and functional capacity and functionality were evaluated and compared between the sexes and the different frailty statuses (non-frail, prefrail, and frail). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify associations (po0.05). RESULTS: A high prevalence of frailty (15.8%) and prefrailty (65.3%) were observed, and both were higher in female than in male individuals. The most predominant frailty criterion was weakness, followed by exhaustion. Compared with the non-frail elderly, the prefrail and frail elderly were older in age and presented more health problems, greater dependency for basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and reduced lower extremity strength performance and functional mobility. The highest proportion of illiterate individuals, individuals with 1-4 years of education, widowed individuals, polypharmacy, and possible cognition problems and diseases were seen in the frail elderly group. Moreover, the risk of being prefrail and frail was higher in those who were older and had more health problems, higher body mass index, and reduced lower extremity strength performance. Greater calf circumference and independence in activities of daily living were protective factors for prefrailty and frailty. Furthermore, lower functional mobility increased the chances of being frail. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of frailty was more pronounced in female than in male individuals, mainly because of a decline in force. Prefrailty was 4 times more prevalent than frailty, and the presence of health problems and reduced functional capacity increased the chances of being prefrail and frail.

The Evaluation of Frailty in the Elderly and Affecting Biopsychosocial Factors: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

“…Similarly, in studies examining frailty and the related factors, elderly people who are female, single, those who have a low income and low education level, who do not receive a pension, and who are obese were found to have higher frailty. Distinctively, the frailty prevalence showed an increase in line with the number of chronic diseases in these studies ( 21 , 22 ). While the frail and pre-frail elderly in our study had quantitatively more chronic diseases, we could not find a significant correlation between frailty and chronic diseases.…”

Effects of Exergames and Protein Supplementation on Body Composition and Musculoskeletal Function of Prefrail Community-Dwelling Older Women: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

“…However, none of these studies mentioned which frailty criteria were improved after interventions. Muscle weakness and self-reported fatigue/exhaustion are two Frailty Phenotype criteria frequent in frail and pre-frail older, and the most prevalent in the present study [11,40,41]. Even without difference when compared to the control group, we must highlight the reduction of fatigue/exhaustion because the majority of participants were included reporting this criterion.…”

Accuracy of Tools to Differentiate Single From Recurrent Fallers Pre-Frail Older Women

“…The prevalence of pre-frailty is significantly higher in older person, ranging from 49.3 to 65.3% ( 4 , 5 ) when compared to frailty (16.2–19.6%) ( 4 , 6 , 7 ). Moreover, the prevalence of pre-frailty is higher in older women (56.3%) ( 4 ).…”