Frailty in older Mexican Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To identify sociodemographic characteristics and health performance variables associated with frailty in older Mexican Americans.


METHODS
A prospective population-based survey.


METHODS
Homes of older adults living in the southwest.


METHODS
Six hundred twenty-one noninstitutionalized Mexican-American men and women aged 70 and older included in the Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly participated in a home-based interview.


METHODS
Interviews included information on sociodemographics, self-reports of medical conditions (arthritis, diabetes mellitus, heart attack, hip fracture, cancer, and stroke) and functional status. Weight and measures of lower and upper extremity muscle strength were obtained along with information on activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. A summary measure of frailty was created based on weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, and walking speed. Multivariable linear regression identified variables associated with frailty at baseline. Logistic regression examined variables predicting frailty at 1-year follow-up.


RESULTS
Sex was associated with frailty at baseline (F=4.28, P=.03). Predictors of frailty in men included upper extremity strength, disability (activities of daily living), comorbidities, and mental status scores (Nagelkerke coefficient of determination (R(2))=0.37). Predictors for women included lower extremity strength, disability (activities of daily living), and body mass index (Nagelkerke R(2)=0.29). At 1-year follow-up, 83% of men and 79% of women were correctly classified as frail.


CONCLUSIONS
Different variables were identified as statistically significant predictors of frailty in Mexican-American men and women aged 70 and older. The prevention, development, and treatment of frailty in older Mexican Americans may require consideration of the unique characteristics of this population.
Ottenbacher
Kenneth J
KJ
Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA. kottenba@utmb.edu
Ostir
Glenn V
GV
Peek
M Kristen
MK
Snih
Soham Al
SA
Raji
Mukaila A
MA
Markides
Kyriakos S
KS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D018737:Hand Strength; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D017058:Mexican Americans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors