Change in frailty and risk of death in older persons.
The authors developed and validated a continuous composite measure of frailty and examined its rate of change in 832 older persons with annual evaluations for up to 8 years. In generalized estimating equation models adjusted for age, sex, and education, there was a significant increase in frailty during follow-up. In a proportional hazards model controlling for age, sex, education, and baseline frailty, each 1-unit increase in annual change in frailty was associated with an almost 5 times the risk of mortality. Using a continuous measure, the authors document that frailty is progressive in some older persons and that its rate of progression is associated with mortality.
Buchman
A S
AS
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Aron_S_Buchman@rush.edu
Wilson
R S
RS
Bienias
J L
JL
Bennett
D A
DA
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D004522:Educational Status; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States