BACKGROUND: We employ an approach based on the elaborated frailty index (FI), which is capable of taking into account variables with mild effect on the aging, health and survival outcomes, and investigate the connections between the FI, chronological age and the aging-associated outcomes in the elderly. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from the National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS) assessing health and functioning of the U.S. elderly in 1982, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999. RESULTS: Distributions of frequency, residual life span, mortality rate, and relative risk of death are remarkably similar over age and FI. Coefficients of correlation between FI and age are low both for males (0.127, p<.01) and females (0.221, p<.01). The FI-specific age patterns show deceleration at advanced ages. The FI can provide order of magnitude better resolution in estimating mean remaining life span compared to age. Males have smaller FI than females while males' mortality risks are higher. For short-time horizons, the FI and age are largely independently associated with mortality risks. CONCLUSIONS: The FI: (i) can be considered as an adequate sex-specific indicator of the aging-associated processes in the elderly, (ii) can characterize these processes independently of age, and (iii) is a better characteristic of the aging phenotype than chronological age.
BACKGROUND: We employ an approach based on the elaborated frailty index (FI), which is capable of taking into account variables with mild effect on the aging, health and survival outcomes, and investigate the connections between the FI, chronological age and the aging-associated outcomes in the elderly. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of pooled data from the National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS) assessing health and functioning of the U.S. elderly in 1982, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999. RESULTS: Distributions of frequency, residual life span, mortality rate, and relative risk of death are remarkably similar over age and FI. Coefficients of correlation between FI and age are low both for males (0.127, p<.01) and females (0.221, p<.01). The FI-specific age patterns show deceleration at advanced ages. The FI can provide order of magnitude better resolution in estimating mean remaining life span compared to age. Males have smaller FI than females while males' mortality risks are higher. For short-time horizons, the FI and age are largely independently associated with mortality risks. CONCLUSIONS: The FI: (i) can be considered as an adequate sex-specific indicator of the aging-associated processes in the elderly, (ii) can characterize these processes independently of age, and (iii) is a better characteristic of the aging phenotype than chronological age.
Authors: Linda P Fried; Luigi Ferrucci; Jonathan Darer; Jeff D Williamson; Gerard Anderson Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Arnold Mitnitski; Xiaowei Song; Ingmar Skoog; G A Broe; Jafna L Cox; Eva Grunfeld; Kenneth Rockwood Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: J W Vaupel; J R Carey; K Christensen; T E Johnson; A I Yashin; N V Holm; I A Iachine; V Kannisto; A A Khazaeli; P Liedo; V D Longo; Y Zeng; K G Manton; J W Curtsinger Journal: Science Date: 1998-05-08 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Alexander Kulminski; Svetlana V Ukraintseva; Igor Akushevich; Konstantin G Arbeev; Kenneth Land; Anatoli I Yashin Journal: Exp Gerontol Date: 2007-05-29 Impact factor: 4.032
Authors: Anatoli I Yashin; Konstantin G Arbeev; Alexander Kulminski; Igor Akushevich; Lucy Akushevich; Svetlana V Ukraintseva Journal: Mech Ageing Dev Date: 2008-02-01 Impact factor: 5.432
Authors: Alberto Pilotto; Luigi Ferrucci; Marilisa Franceschi; Luigi P D'Ambrosio; Carlo Scarcelli; Leandro Cascavilla; Francesco Paris; Giuliana Placentino; Davide Seripa; Bruno Dallapiccola; Gioacchino Leandro Journal: Rejuvenation Res Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 4.663
Authors: S Nicole Hastings; Jama L Purser; Kimberly S Johnson; Richard J Sloane; Heather E Whitson Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-08-04 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Alexander M Kulminski; Konstantin G Arbeev; Svetlana V Ukraintseva; Irina V Culminskaya; Kenneth Land; Anatoli I Yashin Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Alexander M Kulminski; Svetlana V Ukraintseva; Irina V Kulminskaya; Konstantin G Arbeev; Kenneth Land; Anatoli I Yashin Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-03-21 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: José Juan García-González; Carmen García-Peña; Francisco Franco-Marina; Luis Miguel Gutiérrez-Robledo Journal: BMC Geriatr Date: 2009-11-03 Impact factor: 3.921