Citation

Sousa-Santos AR, Afonso C, Moreira P, Padrão P, Santos A, Borges N, Amaral TF. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. 2017; 74: 162-168.

Affiliation

Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; UISPA, LAETA-INEGI - Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.archger.2017.10.018

PMID

29112877

Abstract

AIM: In Portugal, the burden of pre-frailty and frailty in community-dwelling older adults is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency of frailty in a Portuguese sample with ≥ 65years and to evaluate its associated factors. We also intend to identify which criterion has more impact on the diagnosis of frailty.

METHODS: 1457 older adults with ≥ 65years from the Nutrition UP 65 study were evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis. Frailty was identified according to Fried et al. by the presence of three or more of the following factors: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, slowness, weakness and low physical activity. Pre-frailty was defined as the presence of one or two of these criteria. The association between individuals' characteristics and frailty status was analysed through logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: The frequency of pre-frailty and frailty is 54.3% and 21.5%, respectively. In older adults classified as pre-frail or frail, 76.7% presented weakness and 48.6% exhaustion. In multivariate analyses, frailty was associated with age >75, lower education level, being single, divorced or widower, being professionally inactive, poor self-perception of health status, not drinking alcohol, being obese and undernourished or at undernutrition risk.

CONCLUSION: This condition is very prevalent in Portuguese older adults, one fifth are frail whereas half are pre-frail. Weakness identified by low handgrip strength is the most prevalent criterion in pre-frail and frail Portuguese older adults.

Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Exhaustion; Frailty; Physical activity; Walking time; Weakness; Weight loss