Interplay between Inflammaging, Frailty and Nutrition in Covid-19: Preventive and Adjuvant Treatment Perspectives

Association between physical activity and frailty transitions in middle-aged and older adults: a nationwide longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Frailty has become an important health problem in the middle-aged and older people population. Physical activity (PA) is a key intervention for frailty prevention and management. However, studies of the association between COVID-19 pre-pandemic PA and the worsening or improvement of frailty during the pandemic remain unclear.

METHODS

This longitudinal cohort study used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), including participants aged 50 and over. Three intensities of PA (vigorous, moderate, and mild) were categorized as less than once per week and at least once per week, respectively, based on participant self-report. The frailty index (FI) assessed the frailty status, defining frailty as FI ≥ 25. Logistic regression was applied to examine the association between PA and frailty, estimating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS

Of the 4379 non-frail participants at baseline (median age 67, 54.9% female), 8.1% developed frailty during a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Among 564 frail participants at baseline (median age 71, 66.5% female), 17.9% regained health. Compared to those engaging in PA less than once per week, participants who engaged in vigorous (OR: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.35-0.62]), moderate (OR: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.29-0.48]), or mild (OR: 0.38 [95% CI: 0.26-0.56]) PA at least once a week had a lower risk of frailty worsening. Additionally, participants who engaged in moderate (OR: 2.04 [95% CI: 1.29-3.21]) or mild (OR: 2.93 [95% CI: 1.54-5.58]) PA at least once a week had a higher likelihood of frailty improvement. Sensitivity analyses based on comprehensive PA levels confirmed these findings. Participants who maintained at least one PA per week had lower frailty worsening (Vigorous, OR: 0.20 [95%CI: 0.12-0.33]; Moderate, OR: 0.13 [95%CI: 0.09-0.19]; Mild, OR: 0.20 [95%CI: 0.11-0.38]) and higher frailty improvement rates (Moderate, OR: 3.43 [95%CI: 1.93-6.11]; Mild, OR: 4.65 [95%CI: 1.90-11.42]). In addition, individuals (Vigorous, OR: 0.35 [95%CI: 0.20-0.60]; Moderate, OR: 0.36 [95%CI: 0.22-0.56]) who transitioned from inactive to active also exhibited a lower risk of frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasized the critical role of PA in preventing and improving frailty in middle-aged and older people, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study also highlighted the importance of maintaining PA habits to reduce frailty risk and promote its improvement. Also, the study indicated that individuals who transitioned from inactive to active had a lower risk of frailty. These findings enriched the understanding of the association between PA and frailty and provided valuable insights for addressing the health impact of future pandemics on middle-aged and older people.

Dietary intake of live microbes and its association with frailty in older adults: a NHANES analysis (1999-2018)

BACKGROUND

Diet plays a crucial part in maintaining a healthy body, and microbes, as an essential dietary component, have attracted more attention in recent years. In this study, we will explore the link between dietary intake of live microbes and frailty in the elderly.

METHODS

Older participants from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who were not less than 60 years of age were enrolled in this research. Participants' dietary microbe intake was assessed by a self-report questionnaire. Participants were stratified into low, medium, and high intake groups according to their consumption of foods with varying microbial content. The frailty index was assessed by 49 frailty indicators. Frailty was defined as a frailty index > 0.21. Logistic regression was used to analyze the link between dietary intake of live microbes and frailty in older adults.

RESULTS

A total of 15,179 older adults' basic information was collected for this study. The frailty index was higher than 0.21 in 32.8% of participants. Older adults with low, medium, and high dietary microbe intake accounted for 33.5%, 47.0%, and 19.5%, respectively. In models adjusted for confounders, the prevalence of frailty was lower in participants with the medium (OR = 0.825, 95%CI: 0.749-0.908) and high (OR = 0.779, 95%CI: 0.679-0.894) dietary microbe intake groups, compared with in participants with the lowest intake group. The RCS analysis revealed a significant non-linear association between dietary live microbe intake and frailty prevalence, with the strongest reduction observed below an inflection point of 161.82 (P for non-linearity < 0.05). In addition, stratified analyses did not reveal interactions between the study variables.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates a negative and non-linear association between dietary live microbe intake and frailty in older adults. These findings provide evidence of a potential link between live microbe intake and frailty, warranting further longitudinal and interventional studies to explore this relationship and its implications for healthy aging.

Exceeding the Limits with Nutraceuticals: Looking Towards Parkinson's Disease and Frailty

One of the most pressing challenges facing society today is the rising prevalence of physical and cognitive frailty. This geriatric condition makes older adults more vulnerable to disability, illness, and a heightened risk of mortality. In this scenario, Parkinson's disease (PD) and geriatric frailty, which share several common characteristics, are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for innovative strategies. Nutraceuticals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds contained in foods, offering health benefits over and above essential nutrition. By examining the literature from the past decade, this review highlights how nutraceuticals can act as complementary therapies, addressing key processes, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroprotection. Notably, the antioxidant action of nutraceuticals appears particularly beneficial in regard to PD and geriatric frailty. For instance, antioxidant-rich nutraceuticals may mitigate the oxidative damage linked to levodopa therapy in PD, potentially reducing the side effects and enhancing treatment sustainability. Similarly, the antioxidant effects of nutraceuticals may amplify the benefits of physical activity, enhancing muscle function, cognitive health, and resilience, thereby reducing the risk of frailty. This review proposes a holistic approach integrating nutraceuticals with exercise, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments. It promises to transform the management of ARD, prolong life, and improve the quality of life and well-being of older people.

The perioperative frailty index derived from the Chinese hospital information system: a validation study

BACKGROUND

There are various frailty assessment tools in the world, and the application choice of frailty assessment tools for the elderly perioperative population varies. It remains unclear which frailty assessment tool is more suitable for the perioperative population in China. To validate the Perioperative Frailty Index (FI-32) derived from the Chinese Hospital Information System by investigating the impact of preoperative frailty on postoperative outcomes, and ascertain the diagnostic value of FI-32 for predicting postoperative complications through comparing with the FRAIL scale and the modified Frailty Index (mFI-11).

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. Elderly patients who were 60 years or older and underwent selective operation were included. The FI-32, FRAIL scale, and mFI-11 were assessed. Demographic, surgical variables and outcome variables were extracted from medical records. The data of readmission and mortality within 30 days and 90 days of surgery were ascertained by Telephone follow-up by professionally trained researchers. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between frailty and complications. Receiver operating characteristic curves(ROC) were used to compare FI-32 with mFI-11 and FRAIL, to explore the predictive ability of frailty.

RESULTS

335 patients qualified for the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study, and among them, 201 (60.0%) were females, and the Median(P25, P75)age at surgery was 69 (65,74) years. The prevalence of frailty in the study population was 16.4% (assessed by FI-32). After adjusting for concomitant variables including demographic characteristics (such as gender, BMI, smoking, drinking, average monthly income and educational level) and surgical factors (such as surgical approach, surgical site, anesthesia method, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, and intraoperative fluid intake), there was a statistically significant association between frailty and the development of postoperative complication after surgery (OR = 3.051, 95% CI:1.460-6.378, P = 0.003). There were also significant differences in mortality within 30 days of surgery, the length of hospital stay (LOS) and the hospitalization costs. FI-32, FRAIL and mFI-11 showed a moderate predictive ability for postoperative complications, the Area Under Curves (AUCs) were 0.582, 0.566 and 0.531, respectively. With adjusting concomitant variables associated with postoperative complications, the AUCs of FI-32, FRAIL and mFI-11 in the adjusted prediction models were 0.824, 0.827 and 0.820 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The FI-32 has a predictive effect on postoperative adverse outcomes in elderly Chinese patients. Compared to FRAIL and mFI-11, the FI-32 had the same ability to predict postoperative complications, and FI-32 can be extracted directly from HIS, which greatly saves the time for clinical medical staff to evaluate perioperative frailty.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Mitigates Inflammation and Hospital Stay in Frail Elderly Patients: A Moderation Analysis

Understanding the interaction between dietary patterns and nutritional status in influencing health outcomes is crucial, especially in vulnerable populations. Our study investigates the impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and nutritional status on inflammatory markers (CRP) and the length of stay (LOS) in hospitalized frail elderly patients.

METHODS

We conducted two-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis to evaluate the effects of nutritional status and MD adherence on the CRP levels and LOS in a cohort of 117 frail elderly patients aged 65 years or older. Patients with cancer or acute infection were excluded. Adherence to the MD was assessed using the 14-item PREDIMED questionnaire.

RESULTS

Significant interactions were found between nutritional status and MD adherence for both the CRP and LOS. The patients with low-level MD adherence and a poor nutritional status exhibited higher CRP levels and longer hospital stays compared to those with high MD adherence. Specifically, a statistically significant interaction was observed for the CRP (F (1, 113) = 7.36, p = 0.008) and LOS (F (1, 113) = 15.4, p < 0.001), indicating the protective effect of high-level MD adherence. Moderation analysis confirmed that high-level MD adherence mitigates the adverse effects of malnutrition on both the inflammatory response and LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of promoting the MD, particularly in malnourished elderly patients, to improve health outcomes and reduce hospitalization duration. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish causality and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Advances in nutritional metabolic therapy to impede the progression of critical illness

With the advancement of medical care and the continuous improvement of organ support technologies, some critically ill patients survive the acute phase of their illness but still experience persistent organ dysfunction, necessitating long-term reliance on intensive care and organ support, known as chronic critical illness. Chronic critical illness is characterized by prolonged hospital stays, high mortality rates, and significant resource consumption. Patients with chronic critical illness often suffer from malnutrition, compromised immune function, and poor baseline health, which, combined with factors like shock or trauma, can lead to intestinal mucosal damage. Therefore, effective nutritional intervention for patients with chronic critical illness remains a key research focus. Nutritional therapy has emerged as one of the essential components of the overall treatment strategy for chronic critical illness. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the latest research progress in nutritional support therapy for patients with chronic critical illness.

Association between Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score and Body Composition, Inflammation and Frailty in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score has demonstrated its ability to identify patients with poor nutritional status and predict various clinical outcomes. Our objective was to assess the association between the CONUT score, inflammatory status, and body composition, as well as its ability to identify patients at risk of frailty in hospitalized elderly patients.

METHODS

a total of 361 patients were retrospectively recruited and divided into three groups based on the CONUT score.

RESULTS

patients with a score ≥5 exhibited significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Neutrophil/Lymphocytes ratio (NLR), main platelet volume (MPV), and ferritin, compared to those with a lower score. Furthermore, these patients showed unfavorable changes in body composition, including a lower percentage of skeletal muscle mass (MM) and fat-free mass (FFM) and a higher percentage of fatty mass (FM). A positive correlation was found between the CONUT score and inflammatory markers, Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF), and FM. Conversely, the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Mini-Mental Status Examination, activity daily living (ADL), instrumental activity daily living (IADL), Barthel index, FFM, and MM showed a negative correlation. Frailty was highly prevalent among patients with a higher CONUT score. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated high accuracy in identifying frail patients (sensitivity).

CONCLUSIONS

a high CONUT score is associated with a pro-inflammatory status as well as with unfavorable body composition. Additionally, it is a good tool to identify frailty among hospitalized elderly patients.

The Role of Mitochondria in Phytochemically Mediated Disease Amelioration

Mitochondrial dysfunction may cause cell death, which has recently emerged as a cancer prevention and treatment strategy mediated by chemotherapy drugs or phytochemicals. However, most existing drugs cannot target cancerous cells and may adversely affect normal cells via side effects. Mounting studies have revealed that phytochemicals such as resveratrol could ameliorate various diseases with dysfunctional or damaged mitochondria. For instance, resveratrol can regulate mitophagy, inhibit oxidative stress and preserve membrane potential, induce mitochondrial biogenesis, balance mitochondrial fusion and fission, and enhance the functionality of the electron transport chain. However, there are only a few studies suggesting that phytochemicals could potentially protect against the cytotoxicity of some current cancer drugs, especially those that damage mitochondria. Besides, COVID-19 and long COVID have also been reported to be correlated to mitochondrial dysfunction. Curcumin has been reported bringing a positive impact on COVID-19 and long COVID. Therefore, in this study, the benefits of resveratrol and curcumin to be applied for cancer treatment/prevention and disease amelioration were reviewed. Besides, this review also provides some perspectives on phytochemicals to be considered as a treatment adjuvant for COVID-19 and long COVID by targeting mitochondrial rescue. Hopefully, this review can provide new insight into disease treatment with phytochemicals targeting mitochondria.

Nutritional and physical activity issues in frailty syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic

'Frailty' has been described as 'a state of increased vulnerability of the individual caused by an impairment of homeostasis as a result of endogenous or exogenous stress'. Frail individuals are depicted by a dramatic change in health status following an apparently minor insult and a higher risk of adverse health-related outcomes such as osteoporosis and sarcopenia, falls and disability, and fragility fractures. Frailty is a condition of increasing importance due to the global ageing of the population during the last decades. Central to the pathophysiology of frailty is a mechanism that is partially independent of ageing, but most likely evolves with ageing: the cumulative level of molecular and cellular damage in every subject. Furthermore, an uncorrected nutrition and a sedentary behaviour play a pivotal role in worsening the syndrome. In January 2020, a cluster of a genus of the family Coronaviridae was isolated as the pathogen of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Since then, this infection has spread worldwide causing one of the most dramatic pandemics of the modern era, with more than 500 million confirmed cases all over the world. The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 severity ranges from asymptomatic conditions to mild symptoms, such as fever, cough, ageusia, anosmia and asthenia, up to most severe conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure leading to death. Primary evidence revealed that the elderly frail subjects were more susceptible to the disease in its most intense form and were at greater risk of developing severe COVID-19. Factors contributing to the severity of COVID-19, and the higher mortality rate, are a poor immune system activity and long-standing inflammatory status of the frail subjects compared with the general population. Further recent research also suggested a potential role of sedentary behaviour, metabolic chronic disorders linked to it and uncorrected nutritional status. Thus, the aim of this review was to evaluate the different studies and evidence related to COVID-19 pandemic, both nutritional status and physical activity, and, also, to provide further information on the correct nutritional approach in this peculiar pathological condition.

Risk Factors of Severe COVID-19: A Review of Host, Viral and Environmental Factors

The clinical course and outcome of COVID-19 are highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic infections to severe disease and death. Understanding the risk factors of severe COVID-19 is relevant both in the clinical setting and at the epidemiological level. Here, we provide an overview of host, viral and environmental factors that have been shown or (in some cases) hypothesized to be associated with severe clinical outcomes. The factors considered in detail include the age and frailty, genetic polymorphisms, biological sex (and pregnancy), co- and superinfections, non-communicable comorbidities, immunological history, microbiota, and lifestyle of the patient; viral genetic variation and infecting dose; socioeconomic factors; and air pollution. For each category, we compile (sometimes conflicting) evidence for the association of the factor with COVID-19 outcomes (including the strength of the effect) and outline possible action mechanisms. We also discuss the complex interactions between the various risk factors.

Frailty trajectories in community-dwelling older adults during COVID-19 pandemic: The PRESTIGE study

BACKGROUND

Frailty has been recognized as potential surrogate of biological age and relevant risk factor for COVID-19 severity. Thus, it is important to explore the frailty trajectories during COVID-19 pandemic and understand how COVID-19 directly and indirectly impacts on frailty condition.

METHODS

We enrolled 217 community-dwelling older adults with available information on frailty condition as assessed by multidimensional frailty model both at baseline and at one-year follow-up using Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) tools. Pre-frail/frail subjects were identified at baseline as those with MPI score >0.33 (MPI grades 2-3). Frailty worsening was defined by MPI difference between 12 months follow-up and baseline ≥0.1. Multivariable logistic regression was modelled to identify predictors of worsening of frailty condition.

RESULTS

Frailer subjects at baseline (MPI grades 2-3 = 48.4%) were older, more frequently female and had higher rates of hospitalization and Sars-CoV-2 infection compared to robust ones (MPI grade 1). Having MPI grades 2-3 at baseline was associated with higher risk of further worsening of frailty condition (adjusted odd ratio (aOR): 13.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.01-46.09), independently by age, gender and Sars-CoV-2 infection. Specifically, frail subjects without COVID-19 (aOR: 14.84, 95% CI: 4.26-51.74) as well as those with COVID-19 (aOR: 12.77, 95% CI: 2.66-61.40, p = 0.001) had significantly higher risk of worsening of frailty condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic among community-dwelling frailer individuals are far beyond the mere infection and disease, determining a significant deterioration of frailty status both in infected and non-infected subjects.

Gender dimension in cardio-pulmonary continuum

Cardio-pulmonary diseases, which were once regarded as a man's illness, have been one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality for both men and women in many countries in recent years. Both gender and sex influence the functional and structural changes in the human body and therefore play an important role in disease clinical manifestation, treatment choice, and/or response to treatment and prognosis of health outcomes. The gender dimension integrates sex and gender analysis in health sciences and medical research, however, it is still relatively overlooked suggesting the need for empowerment in the medical research community. Latest advances in the field of cardiovascular research have provided supportive evidence that the application of biological variables of sex has led to the understanding that heart disease in females may have different pathophysiology compared to males, particularly in younger adults. It has also resulted in new diagnostic techniques and a better understanding of symptomatology, while gender analysis has informed more appropriate risk stratification and prevention strategies. The existing knowledge in the pulmonary field shows the higher prevalence of pulmonary disorders among females, however, the role of gender as a socio-cultural construct has yet to be explored for the implementation of targeted interventions. The purpose of this review is to introduce the concept of gender dimension and its importance for the cardiopulmonary continuum with a focus on shared pathophysiology and disease presentation in addition to interrelation with chronic kidney disease. The review presents basic knowledge of what gender dimension means, and the application of sex and gender aspects in cardiovascular medicine with a specific focus on early pulmonary development, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Early vascular aging and inflammation have been presented as a potential pathophysiological link, with further interactions between the cardiopulmonary continuum and chronic kidney disease. Finally, implications for potential future research have been provided to increase the impact of gender dimension on research excellence that would add value to everybody, foster toward precision medicine and ultimately improve human health.

Is COVID-19 really a geriatric syndrome?

Geriatric syndromes are a group of medical conditions, such as cognitive impairment, delirium, frailty, dizziness, syncope, and incontinence, associated with age increase. Many studies have reported a higher mortality rate for older COVID-19 patients, which could be explained by the complications of COVID-19, including the components of geriatric syndromes. We read with great interest the paper "Prevalence of unwillingness and uncertainty to vaccinate against COVID-19 in older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis" by Nicola Veronese et al. Their valuable work determines how uncertainty and unwillingness towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are more prevalent among older adults and how this hesitancy could affect vaccine uptake, and ultimately, the mortality rate. Regarding this paper, we wish to address some points.

Factors related to malnutrition and their association with frailty in community-dwelling older adults registered at a geriatric clinic

BACKGROUND

We hypothesized that factors related to malnutrition, namely low muscle mass, appetite loss, and adiposity, are associated with frailty and pre-frailty in community-dwelling older adults.

AIMS

To identify the prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in a Brazilian convenience sample and test the association between these conditions and malnutrition-related factors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing community project. We studied 106 older adults (≥60 years old). Frailty (dependent variable) was screened using the FRAIL-BR scale. The independent variables were appetite loss (AL), screened from the SNAQ questionnaire; sarcopenia risk, investigated by SARC-F; body adiposity, estimated by the body mass index (BMI); visceral adiposity, estimated by waist circumference (WC) and the combination of these two indicators. The associations were investigated using multinomial logistic regression models.

MAIN RESULTS

We found, from our sample, 30.2 % pre-frail and 31.1 % frail participants. The frail and pre-frail were older than the non-frail; the frail ones presented a higher proportion of sarcopenia risk and a higher proportion of AL. From the multiple regression models, frailty conditions showed significant association with the AL (OR = 0.68; p = 0.012 and OR = 0.64; p = 0.009 for pre-frail and frail, respectively) and with sarcopenia risk (OR = 3.24; p = 0.001 and OR = 5.34; p < 0.011 for pre-frail and frail respectively). The adiposity indicated by waist circumference, and age, remained in the final model only as adjusting variables but without statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

in our convenience sample of older adults, frailty and pre-frailty showed significant association with appetite loss and sarcopenia risk, but not with adiposity indicators. Future studies are needed to better understand our findings.

Emerging Evidence on the Use of Probiotics and Prebiotics to Improve the Gut Microbiota of Older Adults with Frailty Syndrome: A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

The gut microbiota can impact older adults' health, especially in patients with frailty syndrome. Understanding the association between the gut microbiota and frailty syndrome will help to explain the etiology of age-related diseases. Low-grade systemic inflammation is a factor leading to geriatric disorders, which is known as "inflammaging". Intestinal dysbiosis has a direct relationship with low-grade systemic inflammation because when the natural gut barrier is altered by age or other factors, some microorganisms or their metabolites can cross this barrier and reach the systemic circulation.

OBJECTIVES

This review had two general goals: first, to describe the characteristics of the gut microbiota associated with age-related diseases, specifically frailty syndrome. The second aim was to identify potential interventions to improve the composition and function of intestinal microbiota, consequently lessening the burden of patients with frailty syndrome.

METHODS

A search of scientific evidence was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, and Redalyc using keywords such as "frailty", "elderly", "nutrient interventions", "probiotics", and "prebiotics". We included studies reporting the effects of nutrient supplementation on frailty syndrome and older adults. These studies were analyzed to identify novel therapeutic alternatives to improve gut microbiota characteristics as well as subclinical signs related to this condition.

RESULTS

The gut microbiota participates in many metabolic processes that have an impact on the brain, muscles, and other organs. These processes integrate feedback mechanisms, comprising their respective axis with the intestine and the gut microbiota. Alterations in these associations can lead to frailty. We report a few interventions that demonstrate that prebiotics and probiotics could modulate the gut microbiota in humans. Furthermore, other nutritional interventions could be used in patients with frailty syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Probiotics and prebiotics may potentially prevent frailty syndrome or improve the quality of life of patients with this disorder. However, there is not enough information about their appropriate doses and periods of administration. Therefore, further investigations are required to determine these factors and improve their efficacy as therapeutic approaches for frailty syndrome.