Weakness: The most frequent criterion among pre-frail and frail older Portuguese

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Sousa Santos, AR (Author) Other; Afonso, Cláudia (Author) FCNAUP; Moreira, Pedro (Author) FCNAUP; Padrão, Patrícia (Author) FCNAUP; Santos, Alejandro (Author) FCNAUP; Borges, Nuno (Author) FCNAUP; Amaral, Teresa (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Vol. 74

Pages: 162-168

ISSN: 0167-4943

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 27 Citations

Scopus - 29 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-6ND

DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.10.018

Abstract (EN): 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 >= 65 years 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 >= 65 years 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.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7