Gender Differences in the Association between Frailty, Cognitive Impairment, and Self-Care Behaviors Among Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF), common in older adults, increases the risk of heart failure, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Self-care behaviors help avoid adverse events in older patients with AF. However, while frailty and cognitive impairment can contribute to poor self-care behaviors, few studies have explored these relationships in older adults with AF. This cross-sectional study aims to determine associations between frailty, cognitive impairment, and self-care behaviors among older adults with AF by gender. A total of 298 patients with AF aged 60 and over were assessed with a self-reported questionnaire consisting of the Korean version of the FRAIL scale, modified mini-mental state examination, and self-care scale for AF. Prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in men and women was around 11% and 48.4% and 28% and 47.4%, respectively. According to the hierarchical linear regression analysis, in men, prefrailty (β = −2.874, p = 0.013) and frailty (β = −7.698, p < 0.001) were associated with self-care behaviors; in women, frailty (β = −5.476, p = 0.003), and cognitive impairment (β = −3.350, p = 0.044) were associated with self-care behaviors. Developing individualized care plans will require periodic screening of older patients with AF to determine their frailty status and cognitive function.

Effects of the Older Family Network Program on Improving Quality of Life Among Older Adults in Thailand

“…Lack of self-care behaviors and presence of depression are common among older adults. 11 , 40 , 41 Our study found that depression was prevalent before the intervention. After the intervention, depression was reduced at both follow-ups.…”

Multicomponent Exercise Program Reduces Frailty and Inflammatory Biomarkers and Improves Physical Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Specifically, multicomponent exercise comprising resistance and/or balance and/or flexibility exercises are most effective with frail older adults [14,20] All results reported the effects of balance, muscle strength, and functional ability significantly. Exercise programs should especially consider the effects on physical performance by gender, as females have more disadvantages than males [54,55]. In our study, the intervention characteristics were as follows: 12 weeks center-based and 12 weeks home-based, 3 days per week, and 60 min per session.…”

Symptom Profiles, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Clinical Blood Markers among Korean Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living with Chronic Conditions

“…Females were two-fold more likely to experience a high symptom burden than males. Other studies among older adults in Japan [ 43 ], Singapore [ 44 ], and South Korea [ 45 , 46 , 47 ] reported that females have higher levels of symptoms (e.g., pain, fatigue, depression and sleep disturbance) than their male counterparts. The mechanism of higher symptoms burden in females is unclear.…”