title: Assessment of frailty in community-dwelling older adults residents in the Lazio region (Italy): A model to plan regional community-based services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of frailty is expected to increase worldwide in parallel with demographic ageing. Despite this, little is known about the prevalence in different populations particularly community-based samples. This cross-sectional study evaluates the prevalence of frailty in a community-dwelling older adult population and describes a methodology to plan community-based interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1331 older adults, resident in the Lazio-Region of Italy, were screened by trained public health nurses (PHNs) by administering a validated questionnaire (the Functional Geriatric Evaluation questionnaire). Prevalence of frailty was calculated using the Final Synthetic Score derived from the questionnaire's Final Score. Variables associated with frailty were selected through univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of frail (FS≥10,≤50) and very frail (FS<10) individuals was 13.9% and 7.6% respectively. Variables associated with frailty were age (older than 85 years), disability, living alone or the presence of a paid carer, lower education and neurological disorders like stroke, dementia, Parkinson disease and other neuropsychiatric diseases; Anaemia or cancer were also associated with a higher prevalence of frailty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provide a comprehensive picture of the prevalence of frailty and factors associated to this condition in community-dwelling older adults. On the basis of the study results, a plan of community-based services could address the needs of care of the elderly population. A trained team of PHNs may be the most appropriate personnel to carry out multidimensional frailty assessment in this setting.
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.liotta@uniroma2.it.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Liotta
authors: Health Research Board, Clinical Research Facility Galway, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: rocaoimh@hotmail.com.
authors: Rónán
authors: R
authors: O'Caoimh
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.gilardi@gmail.com.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Gilardi
authors: IPASVI - Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, Viale Giulio Cesare 78, 00192 Rome, Italy; Social Cooperative Nuova Sair, Viale del Tecnopolo 83, 00131 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mariagrazia.proietti@nuovasair.it.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Proietti
authors: IPASVI - Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, Viale Giulio Cesare 78, 00192 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: genna.rocco@gmail.com.
authors: Gennaro
authors: G
authors: Rocco
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: rosaria.alvaro@gmail.com.
authors: Rosaria
authors: R
authors: Alvaro
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: paola.scarcella@gmail.com.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Scarcella
authors: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarrs Hospital, Cork City, Ireland. Electronic address: w.molloy@ucc.ie.
authors: D William
authors: DW
authors: Molloy
authors: Dept of Health Economics, Community of Sant'Egidio - DREAM program, Via San Gallicano 25, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: steorlando@gmail.com.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Orlando
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: sandro.mancinelli@gmail.com.
authors: Sandro
authors: S
authors: Mancinelli
authors: Biomedicine and Prevention Dept, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00173, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: leonardo.palombi@gmail.com.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Palombi
authors: IPASVI - Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship, Viale Giulio Cesare 78, 00192 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: astievano@tiscali.it.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Stievano
authors: LUMSA University, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mcmarazzi@gmail.com.
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Marazzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006285:Health Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011637:Public Health Nursing
keywords: Community based interventions; Community-dwelling older adults; Frailty; Functional decline; Multidimensional assessment; Public health nurses