title: Factors Influencing Transitions Between Frailty States in Elderly Adults: The Progetto Veneto Anziani Longitudinal Study.
abstract: To investigate frailty state transitions in a cohort of older Italian adults to identify factors exacerbating or improving frailty conditions.
  
  
  
  Population-based longitudinal study with mean follow-up of 4.4 years.
  
  
  
  Community.
  
  
  
  Individuals enrolled in the Progetto Veneto Anziani (Pro.V.A.) (N = 2,925; n = 1,179 male, n = 1,746 female; mean age 74.4 ± 7.3).
  
  
  
  Frailty was identified at baseline and follow-up based on the presence of at least three Fried criteria; prefrailty was defined as the presence of one or two Fried criteria. Anthropometric, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline in a personal interview and clinical examination using validated scales and medical history.
  
  
  
  During the study period, 1,114 (38.1%) subjects retained their baseline frailty status, 1,066 (36.4%) had a transition in frailty status, and the remainder of the sample died. Older age, female sex, obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, smoking, loss of vision, low levels of self-sufficiency and physical performance, cognitive impairment, hypovitaminosis D, hyperuricemia, and polypharmacy were associated with increasing frailty and greater mortality. Conversely, overweight, low to moderate drinking, high educational level, and living alone were associated with decreasing frailty.
  
  
  
  Frailty was confirmed as a dynamic syndrome, with socioeconomic and clinical factors that could be targets of preventive actions influencing transitions to better or worse frailty status.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.affiliation: Aging Branch, Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliera, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovannella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baggio
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena Debora
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Toffanello
authors.affiliation: Aging Branch, Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padova, Italy.|Clinica Medica I, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica I, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Division, Azienda Ospedaliera, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musacchio
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perissinotto
authors.affiliation: Aging Branch, Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.|Aging Branch, Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manzato
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: elderly; frailty; risk factors