Performance of Edmonton Frail Scale on frailty assessment: its association with multi-dimensional geriatric conditions assessed with specific screening tools

Development and validation of a predictive model for frailty risk in older adults with cardiovascular-metabolic comorbidities

Background

With the rapid progression of population aging, the number of frail individuals is steadily rising, making frailty a pressing public health issue that demands urgent attention. Compared to individuals with a single cardiovascular-metabolic disease, patients with cardiovascular-metabolic multimorbidity (CMM) are more prone to developing frailty. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for assessing frailty risk in older adult patients with CMM.

Methods

The data came from participants in the 2015 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The study population comprised individuals aged 60 years and older with CMM and complete frailty scale measurements. Frailty status was evaluated using the Fried Frailty Scale. 26 indicators, including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, overall health condition, and psychological well-being. The entire sample was randomly allocated into training and validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. LASSO regression and logistic regression was conducted to evaluate factors associated with frailty. A nomogram was constructed using the identified predictors to predict outcomes. The discrimination, accuracy, and clinical effectiveness of the model were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The study included 2,164 older adult CMM participants, with 387 (17.88%) displaying frailty symptoms. Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that depression, social activity, history of falls, life satisfaction, ADL scores, cognitive function, age and the number of CMDs were significantly associated with frailty. These eight factors were incorporated into the nomogram model, and the AUC values for the predictive model were 0.816 (95% CI = 0.787-0.848) and 0.816 (95% CI = 0.786-0.846) for the training and validation sets, respectively, indicating effective discrimination. Hosmer-Lemeshow test results showed p = 0.073 and p = 0.245 (both > 0.05), with calibration curves indicating strong alignment between the model's predictions and actual outcomes. The DCA demonstrated the model's substantial clinical utility.

Conclusion

The nomogram prediction model developed in this research is a reliable and effective tool for assisting clinicians in identifying frailty in older adult CMM patients at an early stage, providing a scientific foundation for individualized health management and intervention.

Enhanced recovery in cardiac surgery patients with frailty through comprehensive perioperative nursing interventions: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of comprehensive perioperative nursing interventions on postoperative recovery in cardiac surgery patients with frailty, with a focus on physical activity, nutritional status, and cognitive function.DesignA prospective, randomized, single-blind, parallel-group design with a 1:1 allocation ratio.SettingCardiac surgery department in a tertiary care hospital.ParticipantsThis study included 300 patients with frailty after cardiac surgery. Using a computer-generated random number table, patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (150 patients) and the control group (150 patients). The intervention group received preoperative psychological counseling, targeted nutritional support, skincare, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring; the control group received routine care, including postoperative vital sign monitoring, basic nutritional support, wound care, and standard cardiovascular assessments (e.g., heart rate and blood pressure).Primary outcomesPostoperative recovery was assessed through improvements in physical activity (Barthel Index), nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), biostatistical data and cardiopulmonary function indicators.ResultsThe intervention group showed significant improvements: Barthel Index increased by 20 points (95% CI: 15-25, p < 0.01), Mini Nutritional Assessment scores by 3 points (95% CI: 1-5, p < 0.05), and Mini-Mental State Examination scores by 4 points (95% CI: 2-6, p < 0.05). Hospital stay was reduced by 5 days (95% CI: 3-7, p < 0.01), and the 6-month survival rate was 10% higher (95% CI: 5-15%, p < 0.05) compared to the control group.ConclusionsComprehensive perioperative nursing interventions significantly improve postoperative recovery, self-care ability, nutritional status, cognitive function, and short-term survival in cardiac surgery patients with frailty.

Deciphering the Interplay of Frailty, Age, and Gender in Orthopedic Surgical Outcomes Among the Elderly: Insights From a Prospective Cohort Study

Background: With India's aging population on the rise, the prevalence of frailty among elderly patients undergoing major orthopedic surgeries presents a significant challenge for healthcare systems. Frailty, characterized by decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, necessitates a comprehensive approach to preoperative evaluation and care. This study aims to explore the correlation between frailty and socio-demographic variables, particularly age and gender, utilizing the Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) to assess frailty among elderly orthopedic surgery patients. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing 157 patients aged 60 years and above, undergoing major orthopedic procedures between June 2019 and June 2021. The EFS was employed to evaluate frailty, categorizing patients across a spectrum from 'Not Frail' to 'Severe Frail'. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationship between frailty levels and socio-demographic variables. Results: The majority of participants were males (59.2%) in the age group of 60-65 years (63.7%). The distribution of frailty revealed 40.1% of patients as not frail, with a substantial proportion displaying varying degrees of frailty. A significant correlation was found between increased frailty severity and advancing age (P < .001), while gender differences in frailty distribution suggested a higher predisposition towards severe frailty among females. Conclusion: The study underscores the high prevalence of frailty among elderly orthopedic patients and its significant association with age and gender. These findings highlight the necessity for frailty-informed preoperative assessments and interventions tailored to the specific needs of elderly patients. Incorporating frailty evaluations into clinical practice can enhance surgical outcomes and improve the quality of care for this vulnerable population.

Development and Feasibility Study of HOPE Model for Prediction of Depression Among Older Adults Using Wi-Fi-based Motion Sensor Data: Machine Learning Study

BACKGROUND

Depression, characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in daily activities, greatly reduces quality of life. Early detection is vital for effective treatment and intervention. While many studies use wearable devices to classify depression based on physical activity, these often rely on intrusive methods. Additionally, most depression classification studies involve large participant groups and use single-stage classifiers without explainability.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the feasibility of classifying depression using nonintrusive Wi-Fi-based motion sensor data using a novel machine learning model on a limited number of participants. We also conduct an explainability analysis to interpret the model's predictions and identify key features associated with depression classification.

METHODS

In this study, we recruited adults aged 65 years and older through web-based and in-person methods, supported by a McGill University health care facility directory. Participants provided consent, and we collected 6 months of activity and sleep data via nonintrusive Wi-Fi-based sensors, along with Edmonton Frailty Scale and Geriatric Depression Scale data. For depression classification, we proposed a HOPE (Home-Based Older Adults' Depression Prediction) machine learning model with feature selection, dimensionality reduction, and classification stages, evaluating various model combinations using accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and F1-score. Shapely addictive explanations and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations were used to explain the model's predictions.

RESULTS

A total of 6 participants were enrolled in this study; however, 2 participants withdrew later due to internet connectivity issues. Among the 4 remaining participants, 3 participants were classified as not having depression, while 1 participant was identified as having depression. The most accurate classification model, which combined sequential forward selection for feature selection, principal component analysis for dimensionality reduction, and a decision tree for classification, achieved an accuracy of 87.5%, sensitivity of 90%, and precision of 88.3%, effectively distinguishing individuals with and those without depression. The explainability analysis revealed that the most influential features in depression classification, in order of importance, were "average sleep duration," "total number of sleep interruptions," "percentage of nights with sleep interruptions," "average duration of sleep interruptions," and "Edmonton Frailty Scale."

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this preliminary study demonstrate the feasibility of using Wi-Fi-based motion sensors for depression classification and highlight the effectiveness of our proposed HOPE machine learning model, even with a small sample size. These results suggest the potential for further research with a larger cohort for more comprehensive validation. Additionally, the nonintrusive data collection method and model architecture proposed in this study offer promising applications in remote health monitoring, particularly for older adults who may face challenges in using wearable devices. Furthermore, the importance of sleep patterns identified in our explainability analysis aligns with findings from previous research, emphasizing the need for more in-depth studies on the role of sleep in mental health, as suggested in the explainable machine learning study.

Evaluating a digital prehabilitation tool in patients with colorectal surgery: protocol for a multisite randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA and occurs most frequently in older adults. These patients are at increased risk of adverse outcomes following major cancer surgery. While prehabilitation has been shown to mitigate this risk, multiple barriers to implementation remain. Our team created a digital tool co-designed with older adults that employs an algorithm to assess patient-specific geriatric vulnerabilities and generate personalised prehabilitation programmes before surgery.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We have designed a multisite, unblinded randomised trial to be completed at three high-volume academic cancer centres located in California or Texas. Our study population is individuals aged 65 and older with planned colorectal cancer resection who are proficient in English and have home internet access. We aim to enroll 132 patients who will be randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive the intervention (assistance from a home health coach and access to the web application (web app)) or control (usual care with written prehabilitation materials). Our primary outcome is patient engagement with prehabilitation activities.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

A properly executed, written, informed consent will be obtained from each subject prior to entering the subject into the trial. Information will be given in both oral and written form, and subjects may withdraw at any time from the study without effect on their medical care. The protocol and consent form have been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of each participating centre. We anticipate publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05520866.

Development and validation of a frailty risk model for patients with mild cognitive impairment

The study aims to develop and validate an effective model for predicting frailty risk in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The cross-sectional analysis employed nationally representative data from CHARLS 2013-2015. The sample was randomly divided into training (70%) and validation sets (30%). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify independent predictors and establish a nomogram to predict the occurrence of frailty. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the calibration curve, and the decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. A total of 3,196 MCI patients were analyzed, and 803 (25.1%) exhibited symptoms of frailty. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, activities of daily living (ADL) score, depression score, grip strength, cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver disease, pain, hearing, and vision were associated factors for frailty in MCI patients. The nomogram based on these factors achieved AUC values of 0.810 (95% CI 0.780, 0.840) in the training set and 0.791 (95% CI 0.760, 0.820) in the validation set. Calibration curves showed good agreement between the nomogram and the observed values. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results for the training and validation sets were P = 0.396 and P = 0.518, respectively. The ROC curve and decision curve analysis further validated the robust predictive ability of the nomogram. The application of this model may facilitate early clinical interventions, thereby potentially reducing the incidence of frailty among patients with MCI and significantly enhancing their long-term health outcomes.

Pre-injury sarcopenia and the association with discharge destination in critical care trauma patients

Background

Sarcopenia is a key physical component in the aetiology of frailty, representing progressive and CT-quantifiable muscle mass loss. In older trauma patients admitted to critical care, sarcopenic defined-frailty is associated with adverse outcomes, including poor function at discharge. This may complicate discharge to the usual place of residence, an important outcome for patients. This study aimed to identify pre-injury sarcopenia in all trauma patients admitted to critical care and investigate factors associated with discharge destination.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of adult trauma patients admitted to a Major Trauma Centre (Level 1 equivalent) over 18 months. Psoas muscle density (PMD) was measured at the level of L4 vertebra from admission computerised tomography (CT) abdomen/pelvis. Sarcopenia was defined as the PMD calculated using Hounsfield unit average calculation within the lowest quartile for sex. Discharge destination was dichotomised into independent and dependent discharge. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with discharge destination.

Results

Overall, 197 patients were included. Patients were predominantly male (73%) with a median age of 52 (32–72) and the majority were severely injured (72%). Sarcopenia was identified in a quarter of the cohort on admission to critical care ( n = 49). Only a third of sarcopenic patients were discharged to home, compared to a half of non-sarcopenic patients ( p = 0.03). Sarcopenia (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.17–0.81, p = 0.01), blunt injury (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.06–0.87, p = 0.03), age (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95–0.99, p = 0.01) and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.12–0.57, p = 0.01) were associated with a decreased rate of independent discharge.

Conclusion

For trauma critical care patients, sarcopenia on admission CT was associated with dependent discharge destination and therefore is unfavourable. Defining sarcopenia early in an trauma patients critical care admission may help to identify those at risk of poor outcomes.

The relationship between frailty levels and quality of life in patients over 65 years of age receiving regular hemodialysis treatment

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between frailty levels and quality of life in patients over 65 years of age receiving regular haemodialysis treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was designed as a descriptive and correlational study. Data were collected from patients in a university hospital and two private dialysis centres in Konya between August and September 2023. The study sample consisted of 171 patients. The data collection tools included the Descriptive Characteristics Information Form, the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), and the EQ-5D-5L Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software program. Frequency and percentage calculations were obtained for the measurements in the personal information form. Since the data in the personal information form and EFS did not show normal distribution, non-parametric tests, specifically the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis H-test, were used.

RESULTS

The results obtained in the present study showed a significant, moderate, negative correlation between the quality of life and frailty levels of patients over 65 years of age receiving dialysis treatment.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that as quality of life increased, frailty levels decreased. Improvements in patients' quality of life could potentially lead to a reduction in frailty levels.

Determination of the relationship between frailty level and quality of life in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between frailty level and quality of life in elderly individuals with Type 2 diabetes. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 211 patients who applied to the diabetes outpatient clinic of a private and a public hospital in Istanbul between September and November 2022. The data were obtained by using the Personal Information Form, Edmonton Frail Scale and the Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale. The mean Edmonton Frail Scale score of the participants was 7.36 ± 4.35. Their mean quality of life scale score was 19.32 ± 7.12. A low degree of negative correlation was found between Elderly Quality of Life Scale total and subscale scores and the Edmonton Frail Scale score (p < 0.05). Besides, there was a statistically significant difference between the Edmonton Frail Scale mean score and education level, history of falling in the last 1 year, using oral antidiabetic drugs, and the presence of diabetes complications (p < 0.05). It is recommended that frailty and quality of life should be evaluated regularly in elderly patients with diabetes and necessary planning should be made in diabetes management and improving quality of life in the presence of frailty.

Scale-based screening and assessment of age-related frailty

As the population ages, the prevalence of age-related frailty increases sharply, which increases the risk of poor health status of older adults, such as disability, falls, hospitalization, and death. Across the globe, frailty is moving toward the forefront of health and medical research. Currently, frailty is believed to be preventable and reversible, so the early identification of frailty is critical. However, there are neither precise biomarkers of frailty nor definitive laboratory tests and corresponding clinical testing techniques and equipment in clinical practice. As a result, the clinical identification of frailty is mainly achieved through the widely used frailty scale, which is an objective, simple, time-saving, effective, economical, and feasible measurement tool. In this narrative review, we summarized and analyzed the various existing frailty scales from different perspectives of screening and evaluation, aiming to provide a reference for clinical researchers and practitioners to judge and manage frail older people accurately.

Not All Frailty Assessments Are Created Equal: Comparability of Electronic Health Data-Based Frailty Assessments in Assessing Older People in Residential Care

Objectives: To evaluate the comparability of frailty assessment tools - the electronic frailty index (eFI), retrospective electronic frailty index (reFI), and clinical frailty scale (CFS) - in older residents of care facilities. Methods: Data from 813 individuals aged 65 or older, with frailty and co-morbidities, collected between 2022 and 2023, were analysed using various statistical methods. Results: The results showed significant differences in frailty classification among the tools: 78.3% were identified as moderately to severely frail by eFI, 59.6% by reFI, and 92.1% by CFS. Statistical tests confirmed significant differences (p < .05) in their assessments, indicating variability in measurement methods. Discussion: This study advances the understanding of frailty assessment within aged-care settings, highlighting the differences in the efficacy of these assessment tools. It underscores the challenges in frailty assessments and emphasizes the need for continuous refinement of assessment methods to address the diverse facets of frailty in aged care.

Research Progress on Frailty in Elderly People

Global aging is rapidly accelerating, which significantly influences the health systems worldwide. Frailty emerges as the most conspicuous hallmark of aging, imposing novel global health challenges. Characterized by a multifaceted decline across physiological system, frailty diminishes an individual's capacity to maintain equilibrium in the presence of stressors, which leads to adverse outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability. Several screening tools and interventions have been developed to mitigate the harm caused by frailty to human health, but research on frailty in mainland China commences belatedly with scant studies conducted. Therefore, it is imperative to explore screening methods and treatment modalities tailored to the Chinese context, thereby enhancing the older adults' quality of life and advancing social medicine. This review aims to elucidate the evolution, diagnosis, and management of frailty, alongside the challenges it poses, with the overarching goal of guiding future diagnostic and therapeutic endeavors. Specifically, we summarized the mechanisms of frailty and intervention strategies in elderly people, and meanwhile, we evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of different measurement tools.

Serum dysregulation of serine and glycine metabolism as predictive biomarker for cognitive decline in frail elderly subjects

Frailty is a common age-related clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in the function of multiple organ systems, increased vulnerability to stressors, and a huge socio-economic burden. Despite recent research efforts, the physiopathological mechanisms underlying frailty remain elusive and biomarkers able to predate its occurrence in the early stages are still lacking. Beyond its physical component, cognitive decline represents a critical domain of frailty associated with higher risk of adverse health outcomes. We measured by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) a pool of serum amino acids including L-glutamate, L-aspartate, glycine, and D-serine, as well as their precursors L-glutamine, L-asparagine, and L-serine in a cohort of elderly subjects encompassing the entire continuum from fitness to frailty. These amino acids are known to orchestrate excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and in turn, to play a key role as intermediates of energy homeostasis and in liver, kidney, muscle, and immune system metabolism. To comprehensively assess frailty, we employed both the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), as a practical tool to capture the multidimensionality of frailty, and the frailty phenotype, as a measure of physical function. We found that D-serine and D-/Total serine ratio were independent predictors of EFS but not of physical frailty. Furthermore, higher levels of glycine, glycine/L-serine and D-/Total serine were associated with worse cognition and depressive symptoms in the frail group. These findings suggest that changes in peripheral glycine and serine enantiomers homeostasis may represent a novel biochemical correlate of frailty.

Comparison of frailty indexes as predictors of clinical outcomes after major thoracic surgery

Background

Despite greater appreciation for the importance of frailty in surgical patients, due to improved understanding that frailty is often linked to poor outcomes, the optimal method of assessment remains unknown. In this study, we sought to evaluate the prevalence of frailty in patients considered for elective thoracic surgery and to test the ability of several frailty measurements to predict postoperative outcomes.

Methods

Patients included were candidates for major elective thoracic surgery. Preoperative assessment of frailty included the Fried frailty phenotype, the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), the modified frailty index (mFI), the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and additional components of frailty. Outcome data include days with chest drain, length of hospital stay, and postoperative adverse events.

Results

According to the Fried frailty phenotype, 53% of 94 patients included were prefrail or frail. A significant association between frailty and postoperative complications was found (odds ratio 7.65; P=0.001). No association between CFS, mFI, EFS, and complications was observed. The Frailty Phenotype seemed the most accurate in predicting postoperative complications, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77. Twenty-seven percent of patients meet the criteria for depression according to the Geriatric Depression Scale and they showed a higher risk of postoperative complications (OR 2.47; P=0.03). A lower psoas muscle index was associated with a higher risk of complications (OR 3.40; P=0.04).

Conclusions

According to our results, the Fried frailty phenotype seems the most accurate tool to test frailty in patients undergoing thoracic resections. Surgeons should be aware that, although these aspects are not routinely tested, they are potential targets to improve clinical outcomes. Studies on additional interventions specifically targeting frail people in the setting of elective thoracic surgery are required.

Effects of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive frailty, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation in older adults with cognitive frailty: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation play an important role in the pathogenesis process of cognitive frailty (CF). Regular Baduanjin exercise could improve cognitive frailty in older adults, but it is unclear whether the effect of Baduanjin exercise on improving CF is mediated by modulating circulating oxidative stress and inflammatory process.

Method

A total of 102 community-dwelling older adults with CF were recruited and randomly allocated into a 24-week Baduanjin exercise training group or no specific exercise intervention control group at an equal rate. Cognitive function and physical frailty index were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), as well as the oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline and after intervention.

Result

After 24 weeks of intervention, the increased MoCA score (2.51 ± 0.32 points, p < 0.001) and the decreased EFS scores (1.94 ± 0.20 points, p = 0.012) in the Baduanjin group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Serum antioxidant SOD levels were increased by 10.03 ± 4.73 U/mL (p < 0.001), and the prooxidative MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α levels were decreased by -1.08 ± 0.80 nmol/mL (p = 0.030) and -86.61 ± 15.03 ng/L (p < 0.001) in the Baduanjin training group; while inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 levels were increased (1.08 ± 0.33 pg./mL, p = 0.034, 2.74 ± 0.75 pg./mL, p = 0.04 and 1.48 ± 0.35 pg./mL, p = 0.042). In addition, a mediation effect that Baduanjin training improved cognitive ability mediated by an increase of circulating IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were observed in this study.

Conclusion

Regular Baduanjin exercise training could improve the cognitive frailty of the community-dwelling older adults with CF, and modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory processes by reducing circulating pro-oxidative MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α levels and increasing anti-oxidative SOD levels, as well as impacting inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 levels. Nevertheless, the mechanism of Baduanjin exercise mediating oxidative stress and inflammatory processes should be cautious to be explained.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, ChiCTR1800020341.

УЛУЧШЕНИЕ РЕЗУЛЬТАТОВ ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОГО ЛЕЧЕНИЯ ГРЫЖ ПЕРЕДНЕЙ БРЮШНОЙ СТЕНКИ У ПАЦИЕНТОВ ПОЖИЛОГО ВОЗРАСТА

Tədqiqatın məqsədi qarnın ön divarının yırtığı olan, yüksək zəriflik indeksli yaşlı xəstələrin cərrahi müalicəsinin yaxşılaşdırılması məqsədilə yeni müalicə taktikasının effektivliynin öyrənilməsi olmuşdur. Kontrol qrupunda olan (n=43) xəstə ənənəvi qaydada əməliyyatdan sonrakı müalicə almışdır. Əsas qrup xəstələrdə (n=49) müəllifin təklif etdiyi üsulla müalicə aparılmışdır: bütün xəstələrə nazoqastral zond qoyulmuş, mərkəzi vena kateterizasiya edilmiş, genişspektrli antibiotik infuziyası, mərkəzi venoz təzyiqi və arterial təzyiqi stabilləşdirmək şərtilə vena daxilinə kolloid və kristalloid məhlulların infuziyası aparılmış və xəstələr 6 saat ərzində əməliyyata götürülmüşdür. Əməliyyatdan sonrakı erkən dövrdə intensiv terapiya şöbəsində tənəffüs gimnastikası, erkən per os qidalanma, ağrının idarə edilməsi üçün epidural kateter vasitəsilə ağrıkəsicilərin istifadəsi, erkən hərəkətə başlama və beynin funksional aktivliyinin artırılması üçün kognitiv məşqlər icra edilmişdir. Əsas və kontrol qruplarında alınmış nəticələrin müqayisəsi göstərmişdir ki, Clavien-Dindo klassifikasiyasına görə II və III sinif ağırlaşmalara kontrol qrupunda daha çox rast gəlinmişdir. Xəstələrin əməliyyatdan sonrakı hospitaldaxili vəziyyətləri əsas qrupda daha yaxşı olması ilə seçilmişdir. Təklif etdiyimiz yeni metodun effektivliyi qanda iltihab əlamətlərinin daha mülayim olması ilə öz təsdiqini tapmışdır.

Представлены результаты исследования, проведенного с целью изучения эффективности новой тактики лечения, предложенного автором для улучшения хирургического лечения больных пожилого возраста с грыжами передней брюшной стенки с высоким индексом хрупкости. Больные контрольной группы (n=43) получали традиционное послеоперационное лечение. Основная группа больных (n=49) получили лечение предлагаемым автором способом, в которое входили: установление всем пациентам назогастрального зонда, катетеризация центральной вены, инфузия антибиотиков широкого спектра действия, внутривенное введение коллоидных и кристаллоидных растворов при условии стабилизации центрального венозного давления и артериального давления, а также 6 часов, в течение которых больного доставляют на операцию. В раннем послеоперационном периоде в отделении интенсивной терапии проводили дыхательную гимнастику, раннее пероральное питание, применение обезболивающих средств через эпидуральный катетер для купирования боли, раннюю двигательную и когнитивную гимнастику для повышения функциональной активности головного мозга. Сравнение результатов, полученных в основной (n=49) и контрольной (n=43) группах, показало, что по классификации Clavien-Dindo в контрольной группе чаще встречались осложнения II и III классов. Течение послеоперационого периода было лучше в основной группе. Эффективность предложенного нового метода подтверждена более хорошими показателями воспаления в анализах крови.

The aim was to study the effectiveness of new treatment tactics to improve the surgical treatment of elderly patients with hernias with a high frailty index. Patients in the control group (n=43) received traditional postoperative treatment. The main group of patients (n=49) received treatment using the method we proposed, which included: all patients had a nasogastric tube installed, central vein catheterization, infusion of broad-spectrum antibiotics, intravenous administration of colloid and crystalloid solutions, subject to stabilization of central venous pressure and blood pressure, as well as 6 hours, during which the patient is taken to surgery. In the early postoperative period in the intensive care unit, breathing exercises, early oral nutrition, the use of painkillers through an epidural catheter to relieve pain, and early motor and cognitive exercises to increase the functional activity of the brain were performed. A comparison of the results obtained in the main (n = 49) and control (n=43) groups, showed that according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, complications of classes II and III were more common in the control group. The course of the postoperative period was better in the main group. The effectiveness of our new method is confirmed by better indicators of inflammation in blood tests.

The measurement properties and feasibility of FRAIL scale in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Frailty is a prevalent condition amongst older adults, significantly affecting their quality of life. The FRAIL tool has been purposefully designed for clinical application by assisting healthcare professionals in identifying and managing frailty-related issues in older adults, making it a preferred choice for assessing frailty across diverse older populations. This review aimed to synthesize the measurement properties and feasibility of FRAIL. Guided by COSMIN guidelines, seven databases were searched from inception to 31 Mar 2023. The measurement properties were extracted for quality appraisal of the populations in the studied samples. Where possible, random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression were used for quantitative synthesis. Eighteen articles containing 273 tests were drawn from 14 different populations. We found that populations testing for criterion validity had high-quality ratings, while construct validity ratings varied based on health status and geographical region. Test-retest reliability had sufficient quality ratings, while scale agreement had sufficient ratings in only four out of 14 populations tested. Responsiveness ratings were insufficient in seven out of eight populations, with inconsistent ratings in one population. Our analysis of missing data across three articles showed a 16.3% rate, indicating good feasibility of the FRAIL. FRAIL is a feasible tool for assessing frailty of older adults in community settings, with good criterion validity and test-retest reliability. However, more research is needed on construct validity and responsiveness.

Global frailty screening tools: Review and application of frailty screening tools from 2001 to 2023

As the aging population increases globally, health-related issues caused by frailty are gradually coming to light and have become a global health priority. Frailty leads to a significantly increased risk of falls, incapacitation, and death. Early screening leads to better prevention and management of frailty, increasing the possibility of reversing it. Developing assessment tools by incorporating disease states of older adults using effective interventions has become the most effective approach for preventing and controlling frailty. The most direct and effective tool for evaluating debilitating conditions is a frailty screening tool, but because there is no globally recognized gold standard, every country has its own scale for national use. The diversity and usefulness of the frailty screening tool has become a hot topic worldwide. In this article, we reviewed the frailty screening tool published worldwide from January 2001 to June 2023. We focused on several commonly used frailty screening tools. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed database, and the commonly used frailty screening tools were found to be translated and validated in many countries. Disease-specific scales were also selected to fit the disease. Each of the current frailty screening tools are used in different clinical situations, and therefore, the clinical practice applications of these frailty screening tools are summarized graphically to provide the most intuitive screening and reference for clinical practitioners. The frailty screening tools were categorized as (ⅰ) Global Frailty Screening Tools in Common; (ⅱ) Frailty Screening Tools in various countries; (ⅲ) Frailty Screening Tools for various diseases. As science and technology continue to advance, electronic frailty assessment tools have been developed and utilized. In the context of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), electronic frailty assessment tools played an important role. This review compares the currently used frailty screenings tools, with a view to enable quick selection of the appropriate scale. However, further improvement and justification of each tool is needed to guide clinical practitioners to make better decisions.

Development and Validation of a Risk Prediction Model for Frailty in Patients with Chronic Diseases

The occurrence rate of frailty is high among patients with chronic diseases. However, the assessment of frailty among these patients is still far from being a routine part of clinical practice. The aim of this study is to develop a validated predictive model for assessing frailty risk in patients with chronic illnesses. This study recruited 543 patients with chronic diseases, and 237 were included in the development and validation of the predictive model. A total of 57 frailty related indicators were analyzed, encompassing sociodemographic variables, health status, physical measurements, nutritional assessment, physical activity levels, and blood biomarkers. There were 100 cases (42.2%) presenting frailty symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, age, chronic diseases, Mini Nutritional Assessment score, and Clinical Frailty Scale score were predictive factors for frailty in chronic disease patients. Utilizing these factors, a nomogram model demonstrated good consistency and accuracy. The AUC values for the predictive model and validation set were 0.946 and 0.945, respectively. Calibration curves, ROC, and DCA indicated the nomogram had favorable predictive performance. Altogether, the comprehensive nomogram developed here is a promising and convenient tool for assessing frailty risk in patients with chronic diseases, aiding clinical practitioners in screening high-risk populations.

Diagnosis of frailty and implications on surgical process in the elderly: A narrative review

Longevity has increased the proportion of the elderly in the population, and as a result ageing has become the leading factor for diseases such as cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders. It also makes surgical procedures more complex with potential life-threatening complications. In order to further investigate the role of ageing in modern healthcare, the term 'frailty' has been proposed to describe a condition of reduced functional reserve that leads to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to review the pathophysiology of frailty and to highlight the most important tools to diagnose it, and their ability to predict the postoperative outcome. There are two major conceptual models that provide guidance for the detection of frailty: the Fried Phenotype Model and the Cumulative Deficit Model. These two main models have provided a base from which the assessment of frailty has developed. Two frailty assessment tools, the modified frailty index and the simplified frailty index play a key role in the preoperative setting because of their predictive power for postoperative risk quantification. Assessments of independence and/or cognitive function represent the main components that an ideal frailty tool should have to identify elderly people who are at risk of postoperative functional and cognitive deterioration. Cognitive impairment undoubtedly has a high association with frailty, but cognitive status is not included in many frailty assessments. In this regard, comprehensive geriatric assessment is a more complete evaluation tool, and it should be used whenever a frailty tool screening gives a positive result. Finally, frailty assessment is useful to explore the cumulative effect of comorbidities on the ageing patients' functional reserves and to identify the appropriate level of in-hospital and postdischarge care.

Diabetes Life Expectancy Prediction Model Inputs and Results From Patient Surveys Compared With Electronic Health Record Abstraction: Survey Study

Background

Prediction models are being increasingly used in clinical practice, with some requiring patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The optimal approach to collecting the needed inputs is unknown.

Objective

Our objective was to compare mortality prediction model inputs and scores based on electronic health record (EHR) abstraction versus patient survey.

Methods

Older patients aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes at an urban primary care practice in Chicago were recruited to participate in a care management trial. All participants completed a survey via an electronic portal that included items on the presence of comorbid conditions and functional status, which are needed to complete a mortality prediction model. We compared the individual data inputs and the overall model performance based on the data gathered from the survey compared to the chart review.

Results

For individual data inputs, we found the largest differences in questions regarding functional status such as pushing/pulling, where 41.4% (31/75) of participants reported difficulties that were not captured in the chart with smaller differences for comorbid conditions. For the overall mortality score, we saw nonsignificant differences (P=.82) when comparing survey and chart-abstracted data. When allocating participants to life expectancy subgroups (<5 years, 5-10 years, >10 years), differences in survey and chart review data resulted in 20% having different subgroup assignments and, therefore, discordant glucose control recommendations.

Conclusions

In this small exploratory study, we found that, despite differences in data inputs regarding functional status, the overall performance of a mortality prediction model was similar when using survey and chart-abstracted data. Larger studies comparing patient survey and chart data are needed to assess whether these findings are reproduceable and clinically important.

Hypertension Treatment in Frail Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Appraisal of Guidelines

BACKGROUND

Managing hypertension in frail older patients is challenging. Several institutions and organizations have published up-to-date hypertension guidelines suggesting frailty screening among older hypertensive patients, with new recommendations for blood pressure-lowering treatment among the frail population. However, the quality of current hypertension guidelines and the consistency of antihypertension treatment recommendations for frail older patients and their supporting evidence remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

In this review, we aimed to systematically collect guidelines with antihypertension treatment recommendations for frail older patients, examine and compare these recommendations, and critically assess reporting and methodology quality of these guidelines.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on two databases and three major websites of guideline development organizations. The AGREE instrument and RIGHT checklist were used to evaluate the methodology and reporting quality of the guidelines, respectively. The consistency of recommendations within the guidelines were compared using descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 13 hypertension guidelines. The overall methodology quality scores (range 23.35-79.07%) and reporting rates (range 10/35-29/35) varied among these guidelines. Four guidelines provided an explicit definition of frailty. Considering treatment tolerability or increased likelihood of adverse effects while using pharmacotherapy in frail older patients was mentioned in all guidelines. Ten guidelines recommended adjusting blood pressure targets or specific pharmacotherapy programs. Four guidelines recommended using clinical judgment when prescribing. However, the specific recommendations lacked clarity and unity without sufficient evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

There were considerable variations in methodology and reporting quality across the 13 included hypertension guidelines. Furthermore, the depth and breadth of antihypertension treatment recommendations for frail older patients were varied and inconsistent. Further trials exploring optimal treatment are urgently required to promote the development of specific guidelines for managing frail older hypertensive patients.

Risk of violence and frailty syndrome among older adults treated at a hospital service

OBJECTIVES

to assess the association between risk of violence and frailty syndrome among hospitalized older adults.

METHODS

quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional research, carried out with older adults in two university hospitals. Data collection was performed using the Brazil Old Age Schedule, Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test and Edmonton Frail Scale instruments. It was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

risk of violence was higher among women (68.9%), over 70 years old (64.7%), with more than 3 years of study (68.9%), without relationship (67.1%), who do not work (65.1%) and with income above 1 minimum wage (65.2%). There is a significant association between risk of violence and frailty (72.3%; p<0.001) and a positive correlation between the instrument scores (r=0.350; p-value<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

risk of violence was associated with being female and frailty. The study is expected to encourage further discussions related to the theme and nursing practice.

Individualized Hospital to Home, Exercise-Nutrition Self-Managed Intervention for Pre-Frail and Frail Hospitalized Older Adults: The INDEPENDENCE Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Purpose

Pre-frailty and frailty in older adults are associated with poor health outcomes and increase health-care costs, and further worsening during hospitalization. This study aimed to examine the effect of an individualized hospital to home, exercise-nutrition self-managed intervention for pre-frail and frail hospitalized older adults.

Patients and Methods

Older adults admitted to an acute medical unit of a tertiary hospital in South Australia who were pre-frail or frail were recruited from September 2020 to June 2021, randomized to either control or intervention group and followed up at 3 and 6 months. The outcome variables were program adherence, frailty status by the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) score, lower extremity physical function, handgrip strength, nutritional status, cognition, mood, health-related quality of life, risk of functional decline, unplanned readmissions.

Results

Participants were 79.2 ±6.6 years old, 63% female, mostly frail (67%), with EFS of 8.6±1.9. Adherence to the inpatient and home visits/telehealth intervention were high (91±13% and 92±21%, respectively). Intention-to-treat analysis using linear regression models showed that participants in the intervention group had significantly greater reduction in EFS at 3 (-3.0; 95% CI: -4.8 to -3.0) and 6 months (-2.5; 95% CI: -3.8 to -1.0, P<0.001 for both) compared to the control group; particularly the functional performance component. There were also improvements in overall Short Physical Performance Battery score at 3 (4.0; 95% CI: 1.3 to 6.6) and 6 months (3.9; 95% CI: 1.0 to 6.9, P<0.05 for both), mini-mental state examination (2.6; 95% 0.3-4.8, P=0.029) at 3 months and handgrip strength (3.7; 95% CI: 0.2-7.1, P=0.039) and Geriatric Depression Scale, at 6 months (-2.2; 95% CI: -4.1 to -0.30, P=0.026) in the intervention group as compared to control.

Conclusion

This study provided evidence of acceptability to a patient self-managed exercise-nutrition program that may benefit and alleviate pre-frailty and frailty in hospitalised older adults.

Criterion validity of the health assessment questionnaire for the national screening program for older adults in Japan: The SONIC study

AIM

In our previous study, we proposed that the total score of the 12 frailty-related items in the health assessment questionnaire for the national screening program for older adults could be used as an indicator of frailty. We aim to examine the criterion validity of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty.

METHODS

The data used in this study were from older Japanese individuals aged 78-81 years (n = 461) who participated in the in-venue (2019) and mailed questionnaire (2020) surveys of the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians study. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the criterion validity of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty defined based on the Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the independent association of the 12 frailty-related items with frailty.

RESULTS

The area under the ROC curve of the scores of the 12 frailty-related items for frailty was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73-0.85, P < 0.001). The cut-off value for frailty was 3 and 4 points, and the sensitivity and specificity were 55.9% and 85.8%, respectively. The multivariable logistic regression model showed that four or more scores of the 12 frailty-related items were significantly associated with frailty (adjusted odds ratio = 7.75, 95% CI = 4.10-14.65, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that the 12 frailty-related items in the health assessment questionnaire for older adults may be useful for assessing frailty in community-dwelling older adults in a simplified manner. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; ••: ••-••.

Frailty and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Narrative Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of the narrative review is to provide an overview of the epidemiology of frailty in cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality and discuss applications of frailty in cardiovascular care of older adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

Frailty is highly prevalent in older adults with cardiovascular disease and is a robust, independent predictor of cardiovascular death. There is a growing interest in using frailty to inform management of cardiovascular disease either through pre- or post-treatment prognostication or by delineating treatment heterogeneity in which frailty serves to distinguish patients with differential harms or benefits from a given therapy. Frailty can enable more individualized treatment in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Future studies are needed to standardize frailty assessment across cardiovascular trials and enable implementation of frailty assessment in cardiovascular clinical practice.

Inflammaging and Frailty in Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases: How to Address and Score the Issue

Frailty is a new concept in rheumatology that can help identify people more likely to have less favorable outcomes. Sarcopenia and inflammaging can be regarded as the biological foundations of physical frailty. Frailty is becoming more widely accepted as an indicator of ageing and is linked to an increased risk of negative outcomes such as falls, injuries, and mortality. Frailty identifies a group of older adults that seem poorer and more fragile than their age-matched counterparts, despite sharing similar comorbidities, demography, sex, and age. Several studies suggest that inflammation affects immune-mediated pathways, multimorbidity, and frailty by inhibiting growth factors, increasing catabolism, and by disrupting homeostatic signaling. Frailty is more common in the community-dwelling population as people get older, ranging from 7 to 10% in those over 65 years up to 40% in those who are octogenarians. Different parameters have been validated to identify frailty. These primarily relate to two conceptual models: Fried's physical frailty phenotype and Rockwood's cumulative deficit method. Immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitis, are leading causes of frailty in developing countries. The aim of this review was to quantitatively synthesize published literature on the prevalence of frailty in IMRDs and to summarize current evidence on the relevance and applicability of the most widely used frailty screening tools.

Cognitive Impairment, Frailty, and Adverse Outcomes Among Prevalent Hemodialysis Recipients: Results From a Large Prospective Cohort Study in the United Kingdom

Rationale & Objective

Frailty and cognitive impairment are common in hemodialysis recipients and have been associated with high mortality. There is considerable heterogeneity in frailty reporting, with little comparison between commonly used frailty tools and little exploration of the interplay between cognition and frailty. The aims were to explore the relationship between frailty scores and cognition and their associations with hospitalization and mortality.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting & Population

Prevalent hemodialysis recipients linked to national datasets for hospitalization and mortality.

Predictors

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Frailty Phenotype, Frailty Index (FI), Edmonton Frailty Scale, and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) were performed at baseline. Cognitive impairment was defined as MoCA scores of <26, or <21 in dexterity impairment, <18 in visual impairment.

Outcomes

Mortality, hospitalization.

Analytical Approach

Cox proportional hazards model for mortality, censored for end of follow-up. Negative binomial regression for admission rates, censored for death/end of follow-up.

Results

In total, 448 participants were recruited with valid MoCAs and followed up for a median of 685 days. There were 103 (23%) deaths and 1,120 admissions of at least one night. Cognitive impairment was identified in 346 (77.2%) participants. Increasing frailty by all definitions was associated with poorer cognition. Cognition was not associated with mortality (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95-1.03; P = 0.41) or hospitalization (IRR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.99-1.04; P = 0.39) on multivariable analyses. There were interactions between MoCA scores and increasing frailty by FI (P = 0.002) and Clinical Frailty Scale (P = 0.005); admissions were highest when both MoCA and frailty scores were high, and when both scores were low.

Limitations

As frailty is a dynamic state, a single cross-sectional assessment may not accurately reflect its year-to-year variability. In addition, these findings are in maintenance dialysis and may not be transferable to incident hemodialysis. There were small variations in application of frailty tool criteria from other studies, which may have influenced the results.

Conclusions

Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in this hemodialysis cohort. The interaction between cognition and frailty on rates of admission suggests the MoCA offers value in identifying higher risk hemodialysis populations with both high and low degrees of frailty.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for frailty in patients with diabetes

BACKGROUND

Frailty is the third most common complication of diabetes after macrovascular and microvascular complications. The aim of this study was to develop a validated risk prediction model for frailty in patients with diabetes.

METHODS

The research used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a dataset representative of the Chinese population. Twenty-five indicators, including socio-demographic variables, behavioral factors, health status, and mental health parameters, were analyzed in this study. The study cohort was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 70 to 30%. LASSO regression analysis was used to screen the variables for the best predictors of the model based on a 10-fold cross-validation. The logistic regression model was applied to explore the associated factors of frailty in patients with diabetes. A nomogram was constructed to develop the prediction model. Calibration curves were applied to evaluate the accuracy of the nomogram model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and decision curve analysis were conducted to assess predictive performance.

RESULTS

One thousand four hundred thirty-six patients with diabetes from the CHARLS database collected in 2013 (n = 793) and 2015 (n = 643) were included in the final analysis. A total of 145 (10.9%) had frailty symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that marital status, activities of daily living, waist circumference, cognitive function, grip strength, social activity, and depression as predictors of frailty in people with diabetes. These factors were used to construct the nomogram model, which showed good concordance and accuracy. The AUC values of the predictive model and the internal validation set were 0.912 (95%CI 0.887-0.937) and 0.881 (95% CI 0.829-0.934). Hosmer-Lemeshow test values were P = 0.824 and P = 0.608 (both > 0.05). Calibration curves showed significant agreement between the nomogram model and actual observations. ROC and DCA indicated that the nomogram had a good predictive performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive nomogram constructed in this study was a promising and convenient tool to evaluate the risk of frailty in patients with diabetes, and contributed clinicians to screening the high-risk population.

Fibrosis of Peritoneal Membrane, Molecular Indicators of Aging and Frailty Unveil Vulnerable Patients in Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis

Peritoneal membrane status, clinical data and aging-related molecules were investigated as predictors of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes. A 5-year prospective study was conducted with the following endpoints: (a) PD failure and time until PD failure, (b) major cardiovascular event (MACE) and time until MACE. A total of 58 incident patients with peritoneal biopsy at study baseline were included. Peritoneal membrane histomorphology and aging-related indicators were assessed before the start of PD and investigated as predictors of study endpoints. Fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane was associated with MACE occurrence and earlier MACE, but not with the patient or membrane survival. Serum α-Klotho bellow 742 pg/mL was related to the submesothelial thickness of the peritoneal membrane. This cutoff stratified the patients according to the risk of MACE and time until MACE. Uremic levels of galectin-3 were associated with PD failure and time until PD failure. This work unveils peritoneal membrane fibrosis as a window to the vulnerability of the cardiovascular system, whose mechanisms and links to biological aging need to be better investigated. Galectin-3 and α-Klotho are putative tools to tailor patient management in this home-based renal replacement therapy.

Reproducibility and validity of the Portuguese Edmonton Frail Scale version in cardiac surgery patients

INTRODUCTION

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome characterized by the loss of functional reserve, associated with higher mortality and less functional survival in cardiac surgery patients. The Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) is a comprehensive tool devised for brief frailty detection. To the best of our knowledge, there are no culturally adapted and validated frailty screening tools that enable the identification of vulnerability domains suited for use in the preoperative setting in Portugal. This was the motivation for this study.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the validity and reproducibility of the Portuguese version of the EFS.

METHODS

Prospective observational study, in a sample of elective cardiac surgery patients. The Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) translation and backtranslation were performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and the translated EFS translated, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Mini Mental State Examination Portuguese versions, Katz and Clinical Frailty Scales were administered. To assess validity Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, marginal homogeneity test and Kappa coefficient were employed. Reproducibility was assessed estimating kappa coefficient for the frailty diagnosis and the 11 EFS items. Intra-class correlation coefficients and the corresponding 95% confidence interval were estimated using linear mixed effects model.

RESULTS

The EFS Portuguese version revealed construct validity for frailty identification, as well as criterion validity for cognition and mood domains. Reproducibility was demonstrated, with k=0.62 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.82) and intraclass correlation (ICC)=0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.97) in inter-observer test and k=0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.70) and ICC=0.85 (95% CI 0.72-0.92) in intra-observer test.

CONCLUSIONS

The EFS Portuguese version is valid and reproducible for use, suiting pre-operative frailty screening in a cardiac surgery setting.

A Description of Interventions Prompted by Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and Optimization in Older Elective Noncardiac Surgical Patients

OBJECTIVES

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a multicomponent, complex intervention, can be used to improve perioperative outcomes. This study aimed to describe the actions and interventions prompted by preoperative CGA and optimization in elective noncardiac, older, surgical patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Five hundred consecutive patients aged over 65 years attending a preoperative CGA and optimization clinic in a single academic center.

METHODS

A retrospective review of electronic clinical records was undertaken. CGA prompted actions and interventions were categorized a priori and examined according to the perioperative pathway and frailty status.

RESULTS

Patients received a median of nine interventions (IQR 6‒12, range 0‒28). Long-term condition medication changes were made in 375 (75.0%) patients, lifestyle advice provided in 269 (53.8%), therapy interventions delivered in 117 (23.4%), shared decision making documented in 495 (99.0%) with individualized admission plans documented in 410/426 (96.2%). Following CGA, 74/500 (14.8%) patients did not undergo surgery and were more likely to have benign pathology (69% vs 53%, P = .01), higher frailty scores (Edmonton Frail Scale 8 (IQR 5‒10) vs 4 (IQR 2-6), P < .001), lower functional status (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living 33 (IQR 16‒47) vs 57 (IQR 45‒64), P < .001) or cognitive scores (Montreal Cognitive Assessment 19 (IQR 14‒24) vs 24 (IQR 20‒26), P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

This study provides a description of actions and interventions prompted by preoperative CGA at one center. Such a detailed exploration of the CGA process and the clinical skills necessary to deliver it, should be used to inform future multicenter studies and the development and implementation of perioperative services for older patients.

Effect of Preoperative Sarcopenia, Malnutrition and Functional status on Postoperative Morbidity Following Liver Transplantation

INTRODUCTION

The effect of sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on immediate post liver transplantation outcome is not well established. Most studies on sarcopenia are related to 1 and 3-year mortality. Studies evaluating the effect of malnutrition are at least a decade old.

PROJECT AIMS

We evaluated the effect of preoperative sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on postoperative length of hospital and ICU stay, incidence of complications, and mortality.

DESIGN

In this prospective study conducted on living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia and malnutrition were identified using the psoas muscle thickness to height and the Royal Free Hospital- Nutritional Prioritizing Tool respectively. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was noted. Postoperatively, length-of-hospital stay, ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and incidence of postoperative complications were noted.

RESULTS

Hospital and ICU length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were greater in sarcopenic versus non-sarcopenic patients (35.9 (14.6) versus 26.7 (10.7) days, P  =  0.02; 12.9 (4.8) versus 9.6 (3.8) days, P  =  0.02 and 8 [5,23] versus 5 [4,7] days, P  =  0.01 respectively). The incidence of acute kidney injury was higher in patients with sarcopenia (53.3% vs 19.4%, P  =  0.02). Patients with malnutrition and repeated hospitalizations had higher ICU stays but hospital length of stay duration of mechanical ventilation or the incidence of postoperative complications were not affected. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score did not affect postoperative outcome.

CONCLUSION

In living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia increased hospital and ICU stays, and duration of mechanical ventilation postoperatively. Malnutrition increased ICU stays.

Frailty affects prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The prevalence of colorectal cancer has remained high. Most patients have already developed into the middle and advanced stage when they are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and a small number of them are accompanied by metastasis. In recent years, frailty has been recognized as an important factor affecting the prognosis of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the value of frailty on prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer after treatment.

Method

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web Of Science databases up until March2022. A total of 18 studies were retrieved that met the inclusion criteria, including 9 prospective studies and 9 retrospective studies. Frailty screening tools, proportion of frail patients, and outcomes of colorectal cancer patients after treatment were recorded.

Result

18 studies were included with a total of 352,535 participants. Regardless of differences in frailty screening and treatment approaches, outcomes for frailty patients were less favorable in all studies. Compared with the non-frail group, the frail group had higher mortality, more serious complications, more postoperative blood transfusions and delirium, and more support outside the home.

Conclusion

Although there is no uniform standard for frailty screening, assessing the frailty of colorectal cancer patients is of great significance for predicting prognosis of patients after treatment.

Potentially Inappropriate Medication Administration Is Associated With Adverse Postoperative Outcomes in Older Surgical Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria is an explicit list of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) best avoided in adults ≥65 years of age. Cognitively impaired and frail surgical patients often experience poor outcomes after surgery, but the impacts of PIMs on these patients are unclear. Our objective was to assess whether perioperative PIM administration was associated with poor outcomes in geriatric surgical patients. We then evaluated the association between PIM administration and postoperative outcomes in subgroups of patients who were frail or cognitively impaired.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients ≥65 years of age who underwent elective inpatient surgery at a large academic medical center from February 2018 to January 2020. Edmonton Frail Scale and Mini-Cog screening tools were administered to all patients at their preoperative clinic visit. A Mini-Cog score of 0 to 2 was considered cognitive impairment, and frailty was defined by an Edmonton Frail Scale score of ≥8. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they received at least 1 PIM (PIM+), based on the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria, in the perioperative period or none (PIM-). We assessed the association of preoperative frailty, cognitive impairment, and perioperative PIM administration with the length of hospital stay and discharge disposition using multiple regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, ASA physical status, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

RESULTS

Of the 1627 included patients (mean age, 73.7 years), 69.3% (n = 1128) received at least 1 PIM. A total of 12.7% of patients were frail, and 11.1% of patients were cognitively impaired; 64% of the frail patients and 58% of the cognitively impaired patients received at least 1 PIM. Perioperative PIM administration was associated with longer hospital stay after surgery (PIM-, 3.56 ± 5.2 vs PIM+, 4.93 ± 5.66 days; P < .001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.360-0.546). Frail patients who received PIMs had an average length of stay (LOS) that was nearly 2 days longer than frail patients who did not receive PIMs (PIM-, 4.48 ± 5.04 vs PIM+, 6.33 ± 5.89 days; P = .02). Multiple regression analysis revealed no significant association between PIM administration and proportion of patients discharged to a care facility (PIM+, 26.3% vs PIM-, 28.7%; P = .87; 95% CI, -0.046 to 0.054).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative PIM administration was common in older surgical patients, including cognitively impaired and frail patients. PIM administration was associated with an increased hospital LOS, particularly in frail patients. There was no association found between PIM administration and discharge disposition.

Construct Validity of a New Health Assessment Questionnaire for the National Screening Program of Older Adults in Japan: The SONIC Study

The Japanese government has implemented a new screening program to promote measures to avoid worsening lifestyle-related diseases and frailty among the older population. In this effort, the government formulated a new health assessment questionnaire for the screening program of old-old adults aged ≥75 years. The questionnaire comprises 15 items, of which 12 address frailty, two address general health status, and one addresses smoking habits. This study examined the construct validity of this questionnaire, using the explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The data used in this study were drawn from a mail-in survey conducted in 2020 as part of the Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians study. A total of 1576 respondents (range, 78-99 years of age) were included in the study. Although the EFA did not show an interpretable factor structure of the questionnaire with 15 items, the CFA using only 12 frailty-related items showed the goodness of fit for a higher-order factor "frailty", and the five frailty-related sub-factors model was acceptable. These results suggest that the total score of the 12 frailty-related items in the questionnaire can be used as an indicator of the degree of "frailty".

A systems approach towards remote health-monitoring in older adults: Introducing a zero-interaction digital exhaust

Using connected sensing devices to remotely monitor health is a promising way to help transition healthcare from a rather reactive to a more precision medicine oriented proactive approach, which could be particularly relevant in the face of rapid population ageing and the challenges it poses to healthcare systems. Sensor derived digital measures of health, such as digital biomarkers or digital clinical outcome assessments, may be used to monitor health status or the risk of adverse events like falls. Current research around such digital measures has largely focused on exploring the use of few individual measures obtained through mobile devices. However, especially for long-term applications in older adults, this choice of technology may not be ideal and could further add to the digital divide. Moreover, large-scale systems biology approaches, like genomics, have already proven beneficial in precision medicine, making it plausible that the same could also hold for remote-health monitoring. In this context, we introduce and describe a zero-interaction digital exhaust: a set of 1268 digital measures that cover large parts of a person’s activity, behavior and physiology. Making this approach more inclusive of older adults, we base this set entirely on contactless, zero-interaction sensing technologies. Applying the resulting digital exhaust to real-world data, we then demonstrate the possibility to create multiple ageing relevant digital clinical outcome assessments. Paired with modern machine learning, we find these assessments to be surprisingly powerful and often on-par with mobile approaches. Lastly, we highlight the possibility to discover novel digital biomarkers based on this large-scale approach.

The impact of frailty on adverse outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in older adults: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an effective alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients who are at increased surgical risk. Consequently, frailty is common in patients undergoing TAVR.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the impact of frailty on outcomes following TAVR.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including all TAVR candidates who visited the geriatric outpatient clinic for preoperative screening. Frailty status was assessed according to the Groningen Frailty Indicator. The primary outcome of the study was defined as the occurrence of postoperative complications, and this was evaluated according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. An additional analysis was performed to assess the impact of frailty on 1‐year all‐cause mortality and complications within 30 days of TAVR according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC‐2) criteria. The VARC‐2 criteria provide harmonized endpoint definitions for TAVR studies.

Results

In total, 431 patients with a mean age of 80.8 ± 6.2 years were included, of whom 56% were female. Frailty was present in 36% of the participants. Frailty was associated with a higher risk of the composite outcome of complications [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.55 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.03–2.34)], 30‐day mortality [adjusted OR: 4.84 (95% CI: 1.62–14.49)], 3‐month mortality [adjusted OR: 2.52 (95% CI: 1.00–6.28)] and 1‐year mortality [adjusted OR: 2.96 (95% CI: 1.46–6.00)].

Conclusions

Frailty is common in TAVR patients and is associated with an increased overall risk of postoperative complications, particularly mortality. Increased optimization of screening and treatment of frailty in the guidelines for valvular heart diseases is recommended.

Hypoglycaemic therapy in frail older people with type 2 diabetes mellitus-a choice determined by metabolic phenotype

Frailty is a newly emerging complication of diabetes in older people and increasingly recognised in national and international clinical guidelines. However, frailty remains less clearly defined and frail older people with diabetes are rarely characterised. The general recommendation of clinical guidelines is to aim for a relaxed glycaemic control, mainly to avoid hypoglycaemia, in this often-vulnerable group of patients. With increasing age and development of frailty, body composition changes are characterised by an increase in visceral adipose tissue and a decrease in body muscle mass. Depending on the overall body weight, differential loss of muscle fibre types and body adipose/muscle tissue ratio, the presence of any associated frailty can be seen as a spectrum of metabolic phenotypes that vary in insulin resistance of which we have defined two specific phenotypes. The sarcopenic obese (SO) frail phenotype with increased visceral fat and increased insulin resistance on one side of spectrum and the anorexic malnourished (AM) frail phenotype with significant muscle loss and reduced insulin resistance on the other. In view of these varying metabolic phenotypes, the choice of hypoglycaemic therapy, glycaemic targets and overall goals of therapy are likely to be different. In the SO phenotype, weight-limiting hypoglycaemic agents, especially the new agents of GLP-1RA and SGLT-2 inhibitors, should be considered early on in therapy due to their benefits on weight reduction and ability to achieve tight glycaemic control where the focus will be on the reduction of cardiovascular risk. In the AM phenotype, weight-neutral agents or insulin therapy should be considered early on due to their benefits of limiting further weight loss and the possible anabolic effects of insulin. Here, the goals of therapy will be a combination of relaxed glycaemic control and avoidance of hypoglycaemia; and the focus will be on maintenance of a good quality of life. Future research is still required to develop novel hypoglycaemic agents with a positive effect on body composition in frailty and improvements in clinical outcomes.

Frailty in Aging and the Search for the Optimal Biomarker: A Review

In the context of accelerated aging of the population worldwide, frailty has emerged as one of the main risk factors that can lead to loss of self-sufficiency in older people. This syndrome is defined as a reduced state of physiological reserve and functional capacity. The main diagnostic tools for frailty are based on scales that show deficits compared to their clinical application, such as the Fried frailty phenotype, among others. In this context, it is important to have one or more biomarkers with clinical applicability that can objectively and precisely determine the degree or risk of frailty in older people. The objective of this review was to analyze the biomarkers associated with frailty, classified according to the pathophysiological components of this syndrome (inflammation, coagulation, antioxidants, and liver function, among others). The evidence demonstrates that biomarkers associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, skeletal/cardiac muscle function, and platelet function represent the most promising markers of frailty due to their pathophysiological association with this syndrome. To a lesser extent but with the possibility of greater innovation, biomarkers associated with growth factors, vitamins, amino acids, and miRNAs represent alternatives as markers of this geriatric syndrome. Likewise, the incorporation of artificial intelligence represents an interesting approach to strengthening the diagnosis of frailty by biomarkers.

Wearable-Based Assessment of Frailty Trajectories During Cardiac Rehabilitation After Open-Heart Surgery

Frailty in patients after open-heart surgery influences the type and intensity of a cardiac rehabilitation program. The response to tailored exercise training can be different, requiring convenient tools to assess the effectiveness of a training program routinely. The study aims to investigate whether kinematic measures extracted from the acceleration signals can provide information about frailty trajectories during rehabilitation. One hundred patients after open-heart surgery, assigned to the equal-sized intervention and control groups, participated in exercise training during inpatient rehabilitation. After rehabilitation, the intervention group continued exercise training at home, whereas the control group was asked to maintain the usual physical activity regimen. Stride time, cadence, movement vigor, gait asymmetry, Lissajous index, and postural sway were estimated during the clinical walk and stair-climbing tests before and after inpatient rehabilitation as well as after home-based exercise training. Frailty was assessed using the Edmonton frail scale. Most kinematic measures estimated during walking improved after rehabilitation along with the improvement in frailty status, i.e., stride time, cadence, postural sway, and movement vigor improved in 71%, 77%, 81%, and 83% of patients, respectively. Meanwhile, kinematic measures during stair-climbing improved to a lesser extent compared to walking. Home-based exercise training did not result in a notable change in kinematic measures which agrees well with only a negligible deterioration in frailty status. The study demonstrates the feasibility to follow frailty trajectories during inpatient rehabilitation after open-heart surgery based on kinematic measures extracted using a single wearable sensor.

Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Older Major Trauma Critical Care Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

The objective was to explore the characteristics and outcomes of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in older trauma patients.

Background

Severely injured older people present an increasing challenge for trauma systems. Recovery for those who require critical care may be complicated by MODS. In older trauma patients, MODS may not be predictable based on chronological age alone and factors associated with its development and resolution are unclear.

Methods

Consecutive adult patients (aged ≥16 years) admitted to 4 level 1 major trauma center critical care units were enrolled and reviewed daily until discharge or death. MODS was defined by a daily total sequential organ failure assessment score of >5.

Results

One thousand three hundred sixteen patients were enrolled over 18 months and one-third (434) were aged ≥65 years. Incidence of MODS was high for both age groups (<65 years: 64%, ≥65 years: 70%). There were few differences in severity, patterns, and duration of MODS between cohorts, except for older traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients who experienced a prolonged course of MODS recovery (TBI: 9 days vs no TBI: 5 days, P < 0.01). Frailty rather than chronological age had a strong association with MODS development (odds ratio [OR], 6.9; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 3.0-12.4; P < 0.001) and MODS mortality (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.31-3.38; P = 0.02). Critical care resource utilization was not increased in older patients, but MODS had a substantial impact on mortality (<65 years: 17%; ≥65 years: 28%). The majority of older patients who did not develop MODS survived and had favorable discharge outcomes (home discharge ≥65 years NoMODS: 50% vs MODS: 15%; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Frailty rather than chronological age appears to drive MODS development, recovery, and outcome in older cohorts. Early identification of frailty after trauma may help to predict MODS and plan care in older trauma.

The effect of sarcopenic obesity and muscle quality on complications after DIEP-flap breast reconstruction

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether sarcopenic obesity and muscle quality as expressed by skeletal muscle radiodensity (SMD) are associated to postoperative complications in women undergoing DIEP-flap breast reconstruction (BR).

Methods

All patients who underwent DIEP-flap BR at our tertiary center between 2010 and 2018 were asked to sign informed consent for the use of their electronic medical records and images. By outlining anatomical skeletal muscle contours on the preoperative abdominal CT-scan at lumbar level L3, SMD and skeletal muscle indices (SMI) were measured by two observers independently. Using logistic regression analyses, the association between sarcopenic obesity (BMI >25 & SMI <39), low SMD (<40HU), and Clavien-Dindo (CD) grade ≥ II complications was evaluated. In this way odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (OR_adjusted) were provided.

Results

Out of the 103 patients included in this study, 36% had CD grade ≥ II complications within 30 days of surgery. Twenty patients (19%) suffered from sarcopenic obesity of whom eleven patients (55%) had CD grade ≥ II complications (OR = 2.7, p = 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, sarcopenic obesity was not significantly related to a higher complication rate (OR_adjusted = 2.2, p = 0.14) but women with SMD below average and those with prior radiotherapy had a higher risk for grade ≥ II complications (OR_adjusted = 2.9, p = 0.02 and OR_adjusted = 2.7, p = 0.02 respectively).

Conclusion

Below average SMD (<40HU) was found to be associated with the development of postoperative CD grade ≥ II complications in women undergoing DIEP-flap BR. Future research should evaluate whether improving SMD reduces the complication incidence in this patient group.

The prevalence and prognostic value of frailty screening measures in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: observations from a systematic review

Introduction

Frailty is a complex multifactorial syndrome characterised by a significant increase in vulnerability and worsened health outcomes. Despite a range of proposed frailty screening measures, the prevalence and prognostic value of frailty in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer is not clear.

Aim

The aim of this present review was to examine the use of commonly employed frailty screening measures in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed and Medline was carried out to identify studies reporting the use of frailty screening tools or measures in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. The screening measure used and prevalence of frailty within the population were recorded. Outcomes of interest were the incidence of post-operative complications, 30-day mortality and overall survival.

Results

Of the 15 studies included (n = 97, 898 patients), 9 studies were retrospective and included patients aged 70 years or older (n = 96, 120 patients). 5 of 12 studies reported that frailty was independently associated with the incidence of post-operative complications. There was also evidence that frailty was independently associated with 30-day mortality (1 of 4 studies, n = 9, 252 patients) and long-term survival (2 of 3 studies, n = 1, 420 patients).

Conclusions

Frailty was common in patients with colorectal cancer and the assessment of frailty may have prognostic value in patients undergoing surgery. However, the basis of the relationship between frailty and post-operative outcomes is not clear and merits further study.

Relationship between Vitamin C Deficiency and Cognitive Impairment in Older Hospitalised Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and facilitates neurotransmission. This study explored association between vitamin C deficiency and cognitive impairment in older hospitalised patients. This prospective study recruited 160 patients ≥ 75 years admitted under a Geriatric Unit in Australia. Cognitive assessment was performed by use of the Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) and patients with MMSE scores <24 were classified as cognitively-impaired. Fasting plasma vitamin C levels were determined using high-performance-liquid-chromatography. Patients were classified as vitamin C deficient if their levels were below 11 micromol/L. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether vitamin C deficiency was associated with cognitive impairment after adjustment for various covariates. The mean (SD) age was 84.4 (6.4) years and 60% were females. A total of 91 (56.9%) were found to have cognitive impairment, while 42 (26.3%) were found to be vitamin C deficient. The mean (SD) MMSE scores were significantly lower among patients who were vitamin C deficient (24.9 (3.3) vs. 23.6 (3.4), p-value = 0.03). Logistic regression analysis suggested that vitamin C deficiency was 2.9-fold more likely to be associated with cognitive impairment after adjustment for covariates (aOR 2.93, 95% CI 1.05−8.19, p-value = 0.031). Vitamin C deficiency is common and is associated with cognitive impairment in older hospitalised patients.

The Impact of the Otago Exercise Program on Frailty and Empowerment in Older Nursing Home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

This study assessed the impact of Otago exercises on frailty and empowerment in older nursing home residents.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial included 72 individuals aged over 65 years residing in a single nursing home in Izmir, Turkey. The participants were randomly assigned to the Otago exercise group (OEG) or control group (CG). The OEG performed Otago exercises for 45 minutes, 3 days per week for 12 weeks plus a walking program the 3 other days of the week. In addition to Otago exercise training, the OEG received training based on empowerment consisting of 10 sessions lasting 30 minutes each. The CG received no intervention except routine care in the nursing home. The data collected were sociodemographic characteristics, Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) scores, and Elderly Empowerment Scale (EES) scores before and 3 months after the intervention.

Results

We observed significant differences between the mean EFS (p=0.0001) and mean EES (p=0.0001) before and 3 months after the intervention in the OEG compared to the CG. We also observed a significant difference between the OEG and CG in mean EFS (p=0.018) and EES (p=0.0001) 3 months after the intervention.

Conclusion

The results of the present study demonstrated the positive impact of the Otago exercise program on preventing/delaying frailty and enhancing empowerment in older people.

Correlations, agreement and utility of frailty instruments in prevalent haemodialysis patients: baseline cohort data from the FITNESS study

Background

Frailty is associated with poor outcomes for haemodialysis patients, but its prevalence is uncertain due to heterogeneous definitions. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast prevalence and features of commonly used frailty instruments in a British haemodialysis cohort.

Methods

The FITNESS (Frailty Intervention Trial iN End-Stage patientS on haemodialysis) study recruited adults aged ≥18 years after informed consent, with ≥3 months haemodialysis exposure and no hospital admission within 4 weeks unless for dialysis access. Study participants were clinically phenotyped with frailty instruments including the Frailty Index (FI), Frailty Phenotype (FP), Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), alongside comprehensive baseline data collection of biochemical, clinical and social characteristics.

Results

Between 12 January 2018 and 18 April 2019, 485 haemodialysis patients were recruited. Baseline demographics were median age 63 years, male sex 58.6% and non-White ethnicity 42.1%. Prevalence of frailty was high; 41.9% of participants were frail by FP, 63.3% by FI, 50.2% by EFS and 53.8% by CFS. Female gender was associated with increased frailty, with no independent association observed with age or ethnicity. While correlation between frailty instruments was strong, intraclass correlation coefficient for frailty agreement was 0.628 (95% confidence interval 0.585-0.669) and only weak agreement between instrument pairs.

Conclusion

Frailty is highly prevalent among haemodialysis patients regardless of criteria used. However, our data suggest caution when interpreting heterogenous definitions of frailty for haemodialysis patients as they are not interchangeable. Consensus agreement on the optimal frailty definition for haemodialysis patients must balance ease of use with predictive ability for adverse outcomes before determining clinical application.

PRE-FRAILTY IN OLDER ADULTS: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze pre-frailty prevalence in older adults residing in the community and associated factors. Method: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 291 elderly people registered in Family Health Strategy units. Pre-frailty was measured using the Edmonton Frail Scale, and the other variables were measured using different instruments. Data were collected from June to August 2018. Data analysis was performed using the Mantel Haenszel chi-square test, Fisher’s test and Poisson multivariate regression. Results: pre-frailty prevalence was 69.42% (95% CI; 63.77%-74.66%). Factors associated with pre-frailty were: low education (PR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.11-1.71), dependence on basic (PR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.22-1.59) and instrumental activities of daily living (PR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.40-1.78), depressed mood (PR=1.58; 95% CI: 1.40-1.78). =1.53; 95% CI: 1.31 1.78), negative self-rated health (PR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.15-1.69), polypharmacy (PR=1.30; CI 95%: 1.13-1.50), and nutritional risk (PR=1.27; 95% CI: 1.09-1.46). Conclusion: pre-frailty prevalence was higher than that found in other studies that used the same instrument, and the variables associated with this outcome demonstrated the existence of a common phenomenon among older adults. These are important results, as they highlight the need for investment in research and preventive interventions on the clinical, functional and social conditions of this population. Furthermore, it is necessary to invest in professional training programs for the comprehensive care of older adults, especially with regard to frailty assessment and prevention.