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

• Published in: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
• Main Authors: Sousa-Santos, A, Afonso, C, Moreira, P, Padrão, P, Santos, A, Borges, N, Amaral, TF
• Other Authors: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018
• Subjects: Aged; 80 and over; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Hand Strength; Humans; Independent Living; Male; Muscle Weakness; Portugal; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Norway; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/126488; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2017.10.018

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. This research was conducted according to the guidelines established by the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the department of “Ciências Sociais e Saúde” (Social Sciences and Health) from the “Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto” (PCEDCSS – FMUP 15/2015) and by the Portuguese National Commission of Data Protection (9427/2015). All study participants signed an informed consent form. Nutrition UP 65 is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through European Economic Area (EEA) Grants in 85% and by Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação, Universidade do Porto in 15%. Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway sponsor initiatives and projects in various program areas, primarily focusing on reducing economic and social disparities. The European Economic Area Grants are managed by Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde through the Programa Iniciativas em Saúde Pública.