How to select a frail elderly population? A comparison of three working definitions.
Aim of this study was to compare three different working definitions for selecting a frail elderly population. Frailty was defined as inactivity combined with (1) low energy intake (n = 29), (2) weight loss (n = 26), or (3) low body mass index (n = 26). In the Zutphen Elderly Study (n = 450; age 69-89 years) differences in health, functioning, and diet in 1990 and functional decline and mortality in the following 3 years between "frail" and "nonfrail" participants, according to the working definitions, were studied using logistic regression analysis. Differences according to the inactivity/weight loss criterium were more pronounced than according to the other two criteria. Inactivity/weight loss was associated with lower subjective health and performance and more diseases and disabilities in 1990. Three-year relative risks of mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 4.1, 1.8-9.4) and functional decline (OR: 5.2, 1.04-25.8 for disabilities, OR: 3.7, 0.8-16.2 for performance) were higher as well. Inactivity in combination with weight loss seems a practicable working definition for selecting a frail elderly population.
Chin A Paw
M J
MJ
Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
Dekker
J M
JM
Feskens
E J
EJ
Schouten
E G
EG
Kromhout
D
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D002149:Energy Intake; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014505:Urban Population; D015431:Weight Loss