Paola Siviero1, Federica Limongi2, Marianna Noale2, Franco Della Dora3, Alessandro Martini4, Alessandro Castiglione5, Stefano Masiero6, Giuseppe Sergi7, Stefania Maggi2. 1. National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute - Aging Branch, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy. paola.siviero@in.cnr.it. 2. National Research Council, Neuroscience Institute - Aging Branch, via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy. 3. Associate Medical Office, Abano Terme, PD, Italy. 4. Padova University Research Center "I Approve" (International Auditory Processing Project in Venice), Padova-Venice, Italy. 5. Audiology Department, University Hospital of Örebro, Örebro, Sweden. 6. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. 7. Department of Medicine, Geriatric Division, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While it is well established that frail older people have a higher risk of negative health outcomes, the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in Italian older institutionalized population has never been investigated. AIMS: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of frailty and to identify its associated factors in an Italian residential care home population. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate older people aged 70 or over of an Italian residential care home. A multidimensional assessment examining functional, geriatric, ophthalmic, and audiological domains was carried out to identify factors associated with frailty. Physical frailty was evaluated using Fried's criteria. RESULTS: Data analysis uncovered a 51.1% prevalence of pre-frailty and a 40.4% prevalence of frailty in the 94 eligible participants (64 females) whose data were complete. The multivariable analysis showed that a low education level (OR = 5.12, 95% CI 1.22-21.49), a low physical quality of life score (OR = 13.25, 95% CI 3.51-50.08), a low mental quality of life score (OR = 9.22, 95% CI 2.38-35.69), visual impairment (OR = 7.65, 95% CI 1.77-33.14), and hearing impairment (OR = 4.62, 95% CI 1.03-20.66) were independently associated with frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was found to be highly prevalent in the residential care home studied. Since frailty is a reversible condition, identifying the modifiable factors associated to it should be viewed as an important step in planning and implementing targeted, early prevention strategies.
BACKGROUND: While it is well established that frail older people have a higher risk of negative health outcomes, the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in Italian older institutionalized population has never been investigated. AIMS: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of frailty and to identify its associated factors in an Italian residential care home population. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate older people aged 70 or over of an Italian residential care home. A multidimensional assessment examining functional, geriatric, ophthalmic, and audiological domains was carried out to identify factors associated with frailty. Physical frailty was evaluated using Fried's criteria. RESULTS: Data analysis uncovered a 51.1% prevalence of pre-frailty and a 40.4% prevalence of frailty in the 94 eligible participants (64 females) whose data were complete. The multivariable analysis showed that a low education level (OR = 5.12, 95% CI 1.22-21.49), a low physical quality of life score (OR = 13.25, 95% CI 3.51-50.08), a low mental quality of life score (OR = 9.22, 95% CI 2.38-35.69), visual impairment (OR = 7.65, 95% CI 1.77-33.14), and hearing impairment (OR = 4.62, 95% CI 1.03-20.66) were independently associated with frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was found to be highly prevalent in the residential care home studied. Since frailty is a reversible condition, identifying the modifiable factors associated to it should be viewed as an important step in planning and implementing targeted, early prevention strategies.
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: L P Fried; C M Tangen; J Walston; A B Newman; C Hirsch; J Gottdiener; T Seeman; R Tracy; W J Kop; G Burke; M A McBurnie Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2001-03 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Antonella Pansini; Angela Lombardi; Maria Morgante; Salvatore Frullone; Anna Marro; Mario Rizzo; Giuseppe Martinelli; Eugenio Boccalone; Antonio De Luca; Gaetano Santulli; Pasquale Mone Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2022-04-14 Impact factor: 6.055