Impact of Frailty on Hippocampal Volume in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The impact of frailty on clinical outcomes among individuals with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a prevalent and robust predictor of poor outcomes for older adults and those with chronic disease. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to understand the association between frailty and clinical outcomes for people with COPD.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception to February 2022, for observational studies evaluating the association between frailty and clinical outcomes among individuals with COPD. Included studies defined COPD by spirometry, used a validated frailty assessment tool, and compared dyspnea, symptom burden, health related quality of life, exacerbations, hospitalization, or mortality between frail and non-frail individuals. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Mean differences or hazard ratios were calculated using inverse variance (IV) methods, odds ratios were calculated using Mantel-Haenszel methods, and homogeneity was assessed using I 2 statistics. Results were pooled using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Of 1385 identified studies, 16 studies were included with 7 studies included in the meta-analyses, representing 5903 individuals. The Fried Frailty Phenotype instrument was used in 50% of included studies. When comparing frail vs. non-frail people with COPD, pooled estimates revealed frail people with COPD had higher dyspnea scores [modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score standardized mean difference (95% CI): 1.67 (1.40-1.92), I 2 = 24%]; higher symptom burden [COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score mean difference (95% CI): 10.24 (8.30-12.17), I 2 = 31%]; more COPD exacerbations in the prior year [mean difference (95% CI): 1.09 (0.62-1.56), I 2 = 0%), and increased odds of being hospitalized in the previous year [OR (95% CI): 2.94 (1.57-5.50); I 2 = 0%]. The largest study with longest follow up period showed increased mortality risk among frail vs. non-frail individuals with COPD, [HR (95% CI): 1.83 (1.24-2.68)].

CONCLUSIONS

People with COPD and frailty experience increased dyspnea, symptom burden, exacerbation history, and hospitalizations compared to non-frail patients with COPD. Frailty is a robust predictor of outcomes among people with COPD and should be considered a treatable trait. Additional work is needed to standardize screening methods for frailty, and to understand the optimal timing of non-pharmacologic interventions to treat frailty among people with COPD.

PROSPERO REGISTRY ID

CRD42022329893.

Diagnostic Utility of Specific Frailty Questionnaire: The Kihon Checklist for Hippocampal Atrophy in COPD

Background/Objectives: COPD patients who are frail have been reported to develop brain atrophy, but no non-invasive diagnostic tool has been developed to detect this condition. Our study aimed to explore the diagnostic utility of the Kihon Checklist (KCL), a frailty questionnaire, in assessing hippocampal volume loss in patients with COPD. Methods: We recruited 40 COPD patients and 20 healthy individuals using the KCL to assess frailty across seven structural domains. Hippocampal volumes were obtained from T1-weighted MRI images, and ROC analysis was performed to detect hippocampal atrophy. Results: Our results showed that patients with COPD had significantly greater atrophic left hippocampal volumes than healthy subjects (p < 0.05). The univariate correlation coefficient between the left hippocampal volume and KCL (1-20), which pertains to instrumental and social activities of daily living, was the largest (ρ = -0.54, p < 0.0005) among the KCL subdomains. Additionally, both KCL (1-25) and KCL (1-20) demonstrated useful diagnostic potential (93% specificity and 90% sensitivity, respectively) for identifying individuals in the lowest 25% of the left hippocampal volume (AUC = 0.82). Conclusions: Our study suggests that frailty questionnaires focusing on daily vulnerability, such as the KCL, can effectively detect hippocampal atrophy in COPD patients.

Correlation between frailty and reduction in cortical thickness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Physical inactivity and cognitive impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to frailty and poor prognoses. However, little is known regarding the association between frailty and the human brain. We hypothesized that the brain structure could change according to frailty in patients with COPD and focused on cortical thickness. Cortical thickness measured by magnetic resonance imaging and frailty scores using the Kihon Checklist (KCL) were assessed in 40 patients with stable COPD and 20 healthy controls. Among the 34 regions assessed, multiple regions were thinner in patients with COPD than in healthy individuals (p < 0.05). We found significant negative correlations between the eight regions and the KCL scores only in patients with COPD. After adjusting for age and cognitive impairment, the association between the left and six right regions remained statistically significant. The correlation coefficient was the strongest in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus (left: ρ = - 0.5319, p = 0.0006) (right: ρ = - 0.5361, p = 0.0005). Interestingly, among the KCL scores, the daily activity domain showed the strongest correlation (sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 73%) with the bottom quartile of the reduction in the superior frontal gyrus. Frailty in patients with COPD is associated with a thickness reduction in the cortical regions, reflecting social vulnerability.

Frailty and its influence on mortality and morbidity in COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frailty increases vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Long-term conditions increase the risk of frailty. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE from inception to March 2022. Quality assessment was conducted using the NOS. Data was analysed in a pooled a random-effects meta-analysis. Our primary outcome was the impact of frailty on mortality in adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis according to the guidelines. Secondary outcomes were: frailty and association with readmissions, hospitalisations, exacerbation rates, and prevalence of frailty in COPD. We identified 25 studies, with 5882 participants. The median prevalence of frailty was 47% (IQR, 39.3-66.3%, range 6.4-72%). There was an association between COPD patients living with frailty and increased risk of mortality versus COPD patients without frailty (pooled OR, 4.21 (95% CI 2.99-5.93, I2 55%). A descriptive analysis of relationship between frailty and hospital readmission and all cause hospitalization showed positive associations. The relationship between frailty and the risk of exacerbation showed a pooled OR, 1.45 (95% CI 0.37-5.70, I2 80%). Frailty is significantly associated with higher mortality risk in COPD. Frailty is common in patients with COPD and its measurement should be considered in clinical practice to better characterise COPD.

Prevalence and risk factors of frailty in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the prevalence and risk factors for frailty in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, and a search of the PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases was carried out to collect Chinese and English studies on frailty and COPD published up to September 5, 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 38 articles were included for the quantitative analysis after the collected literature was either included or omitted based on pertinent criteria. The results indicated that the estimated overall pooled prevalence of frailty was 36% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 31-41%), and the estimated pre-frailty was 43% (95% CI = 37-49%). A higher age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06) and higher COPD assessment test (CAT) score (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.12-1.27) were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of frailty in patients with COPD. However, a higher educational attainment (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.43-0.69) and higher income (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.45-0.88) were associated with a significantly reduced risk of frailty in patients with COPD. A total of 17 other risk factors for frailty were identified via qualitative synthesis.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of frailty in patients with COPD is high, and there are many influencing factors.

Is Frailty Diagnosis Important in Patients with COPD? A Narrative Review of the Literature

Frailty is prevalent in older adults and is related to a worsening functionality, quality of life, and health outcomes. Though there is an increasing interest in this field, the relationship between frailty and worsening COPD outcomes remains unknown. A narrative review of the literature with studies published between 2018 and 2022 was carried out to address three questions: the prevalence of frailty and other geriatric syndromes in COPD patients, the link between frailty and worsening health outcomes in COPD patients, and the non-pharmacological interventions performed in order to reverse frailty in these patients. A total of 25 articles were selected. Frailty prevalence ranged from 6% and 85.9%, depending on the COPD severity and the frailty measurement tool used. Frailty in COPD patients was related to a high prevalence of geriatric syndromes and to a high incidence of adverse events such as exacerbations, admissions, readmissions, and mortality. One study showed improvements in functionality after physical intervention. In conclusion, the prevalence of frailty is associated with a high incidence of geriatric syndromes and adverse events in COPD patients. The use of frailty screenings and a comprehensive geriatric assessment of COPD patients is advisable in order to detect associated problems and to establish individualized approaches for better outcomes.