Prevalence and risk factors of frailty among older family caregivers

Kiljunen, Outi; Välimäki, Tarja; Savela, Roosa‐Maria; Koponen, Sohvi; Nykänen, Irma; Suominen, Anna Liisa; Schwab, Ursula

doi:10.1111/scs.13190

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The risk of malnutrition assessed using the MNA is a viable tool for monitoring changes in older adults ( Casals et al, 2015 ). Previous research has shown that the MNA score in frail or pre-frail older adults is linked to physical function and independency and has been suggested as a predictor of frailty ( Casals-Vázquez et al, 2017 ; Casals et al, 2018 ; Kiljunen et al, 2023 ). Nevertheless, this association was absent in our sample, thus, a further dietary assessment is encouraged in future studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health factors associated with cognitive frailty in older adults living in the community

Corral-Pérez,

Casals,

Ávila-Cabeza-de-Vaca

et al. 2023

Front. Aging Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionThis study aims to investigate the health factors associated with cognitive frailty in frail and pre-frail older adults living in the community.MethodsA total of 233 older adults meeting Fried’s criteria for pre-frailty or frailty were included. Cognitive status was evaluated using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. Health factors encompassed nutritional status (evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool, body mass index, and waist, arm, and leg circumferences), physical function (assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery), quality of life (measured with the total index of the EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire - EQoL-Index -, and the Visual-Analogue Scale - QoL-VAS - for today’s health state), as well as sleep, physical activity, and inactivity estimated through wrist-worn accelerometers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify potential predictors of cognitive frailty, considering age as a confounding factor.ResultsCognitive frail participants exhibited advanced age, heightened self-reported exhaustion, diminished overall physical performance, reduced leg perimeter, decreased engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and higher levels of inactivity (all p<0.05). However, after adjusting for age, only QoL-VAS emerged as a cognitive frailty risk factor (Odds ratio: 1.024), while the EQoL-Index, calf perimeter, and levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were identified as protective factors (Odds ratios: 0.025, 0.929, and 0.973, respectively).DiscussionThis study highlights the complex relationship between non-modifiable factors such as age, and modifiable factors including quality of life, nutritional status, and physical activity in the development of cognitive frailty among older adults with a frailty phenotype living in the community.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health factors associated with cognitive frailty in older adults living in the community

Corral-Pérez,

Casals,

Ávila-Cabeza-de-Vaca

et al. 2023

Front. Aging Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nonetheless, other prior studies have mainly assessed physical frailty ( Jiang et al, 2023 ), family caregivers caring for individuals with frailty ( Ding et al, 2022 ; Glomsås et al, 2022 ), and family caregivers’ frailty and associated nutritional and physical factors ( Kiljunen et al, 2023 ). Some recent evidence has also assessed the associations between socioeconomic status, frailty, and comorbidity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Social Inequalities in Older Family Caregivers’ Frailty Conditions, Comorbidity, and Cognitive Functioning: A Cross-sectional Study

Savela,

Välimäki,

Kiljunen

et al. 2023

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We aimed to assess the social inequalities in older family caregivers’ frailty conditions, comorbidity, and cognitive functioning. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Study participants were recruited in 2019 in Finland. First, cognitive functioning was assessed with a Mini-Mental State Examination, comorbidity with the modified Functional Comorbidity Index, and frailty conditions were evaluated using the abbreviated Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Study participants were also interviewed on socioeconomic factors. The social inequalities in these health outcomes were assessed using the Independent Samples t-test, Pearson Chi-square test, and Binary Logistic Regression Analysis. Family caregivers’ ( n = 125) mean age was 74, and 73% had frailty conditions. Family caregivers’ social inequalities in frailty conditions were linked to their older age and the lowest caregiving cash benefit. Family caregivers’ low educational attainment was also the main factor predicting their minor cognitive impairment. Family caregivers’ social determinants of health should be fully assessed in their health assessment, policies, and programs to ensure healthy aging for both family caregivers and care recipients in the future.

show abstract

Underweight, overweight, and weight change in older family caregivers and their care recipients: longitudinal evidence from a randomized controlled trial

Koponen,

Nykänen,

Savela

et al. 2024

Front. Aging

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to identify differences among body mass index (BMI) categories of older family caregivers (≥60 years) and their care recipients (≥65 years). Secondly, this study aimed to examine group differences and factors associated with weight change during a nutrition and oral health intervention. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04003493)) involved individually tailored nutritional guidance from a clinical nutritionist and oral health guidance from a dental hygienist. Baseline BMI differences were analyzed, followed by further analyses of group differences and associated factors of weight change over a 6-month period using generalized estimating equations. Among the participants (113 family caregivers and 107 care recipients), 36.3% and 35.1% were overweight (BMI >29 kg/m2), while 18.6% and 21.6% were underweight (BMI <24 kg/m2) at baseline, respectively. For family caregivers differences in BMI categories included age, mid-arm and calf circumferences, and plasma prealbumin concentration. For care recipients differences were observed in medication use, mid-arm and calf circumferences, Mini Nutritional Assessment scores, physical function, and number of teeth. During the 6-month intervention, there were no differences in weight change between intervention and control groups for both caregivers and care recipients. Factors significantly associated (p < 0.05) with weight loss included female sex for both caregivers and care recipients, and frailty for caregivers. Family caregivers’ characteristics were not significantly associated with weight change in their care recipients. In conclusion, being overweight is a prevalent among older family caregivers and care recipients. Factors such as age, medication use, physical function, number of teeth, and Mini Nutritional Assessment scores varied across BMI categories. Female sex was associated with weight loss in both older family caregivers and care recipients, and frailty was associated with weight loss in caregivers. However, the characteristics of family caregivers did not explain the weight loss of their care recipients.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://www.ClinicalTrial.gov/], identifier [NCT04003493].

show abstract

Prevalence and risk factors of frailty among older family caregivers

Cited by 3 publications

References 54 publications

Health factors associated with cognitive frailty in older adults living in the community

Health factors associated with cognitive frailty in older adults living in the community

Assessing Social Inequalities in Older Family Caregivers’ Frailty Conditions, Comorbidity, and Cognitive Functioning: A Cross-sectional Study

Underweight, overweight, and weight change in older family caregivers and their care recipients: longitudinal evidence from a randomized controlled trial

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About