Multidimensional Approach to Frailty

Abstract

The concept of frailty syndrome (FS) was first described in the scientific literature three decades ago. For a very long time, we understood it as a geriatric problem, recently becoming one of the dominant concepts in cardiology. It identifies symptoms of FS in one in 10 elderly people. It is estimated that in Europe, 17% of elderly people have FS. The changes in FS resemble and often overlap with changes associated with the physiological aging process of the body. Although there are numerous scientific reports confirming that FS is age correlated, it is not an unavoidable part of the aging process and does not apply only to the elderly. FS is a reversible clinical condition. To maximize benefits of frailty-reversing activities for patient with frailty, identification of its determinants appears to be fundamental. Many of the determinants of the FS have already been known: reduction in physical activity, malnutrition, sarcopenia, polypharmacy, depressive symptom, cognitive disorders, and lack of social support. This review shows that insight into FS determinants is the starting point for building both the comprehensive definition of FS and the adoption of the assessment method of FS, and then successful clinical management.

The role of Frailty on Adverse Outcomes Among Older Patients with COVID-19

“…In the management of COVID 19, the detection of high-risk patients facilitates to plan an individualized therapy considering an early admission to ICU and also determines the comorbidities that may worsen the course of the disease and should be intervened if there is any reversible or correctable factor. In case of frailty caused by a reversible situation, the identification of these patients and further treatments with several targeted interventions can prevent the transition from the pre-frail condition to an entirely symptomatic, more vulnerable phase of frailty 35 . Based on the modified or reversed frailty parameters may directly translate into better treatment outcomes 35 , 36 .…”

“…In case of frailty caused by a reversible situation, the identification of these patients and further treatments with several targeted interventions can prevent the transition from the pre-frail condition to an entirely symptomatic, more vulnerable phase of frailty 35 . Based on the modified or reversed frailty parameters may directly translate into better treatment outcomes 35 , 36 .…”

Validation of “(fr)AGILE”: a quick tool to identify multidimensional frailty in the elderly

“…Continuous variables across groups was analyzed by ANOVA test and corrected by Bonferroni's post hoc test while and Chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables. AGILE's inter-rater reliability was evaluated we calculated in 25 subjects by Grip strength (1) yes = 1; no = 0 4 Temporal orientation deficit (2) yes = 1; no = 0 Mental…”

“…Because of population aging, frailty has become a topic of growing interest in scientific and medical research [1][2][3][4].…”

Frailty assessment and postoperative complications in urologic oncology operations

“…This syndrome can also affect endocrine and respiratory systems as well as the skeletal muscle 3 . After all, the determinants of frailty syndrome include reduction in physical activity, malnutrition, sarcopenia, polypharmacy (the use of at least five drugs simultaneously), depression, cognitive disorders and lack of social support 4 . Frailty is associated with increased costs of hospitalization due to postoperative complications and healthcare resource utilization 4 .…”