Frailty as a predictor of mortality: a comparative cohort study of older adults in Costa Rica and the United States

Año de publicación

2023

UUID

f082f610-6cb9-4068-9498-1164ab566315

Resumen

Frailty is a syndrome that results from aging-related declines in multiple systems and leads to an increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes [1]. Because of its age-dependent nature, frailty is common in older adults [2, 3]. A systematic review and meta-analysis estimated an incidence rate of frailty of 40 cases per 1000 person-years in community-dwelling older adults 60 years or older from developed countries [4]. From a biological standpoint, this syndrome results from decreased reserves in multiple physiological systems, which leads to loss of homeostatic capability to cope with stressors. From a clinical standpoint, this condition becomes clinically visible above a threshold of severity [5]. Adverse health outcomes associated with frailty include loss of mobility, falls, hospitalization, and mortality. Furthermore, this syndrome also poses challenges for families, caregivers, and social support institutions [6]. Several scales have been developed to operationalize the measurement of frailty in older adults [7]. In 2001, Fried and colleagues proposed their landmark frailty phenotype measurement called Fried’s Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP), which has become the most widely used frailty screening tool in population studies. The PFP scale consists of five components: (1) shrinking, (2) exhaustion, (3) low physical activity level, (4) muscle weakness, and (5) slow gait [8]. These five frailty-identifying characteristics measure the negative energy balance, sarcopenia, and diminished strength and tolerance for exertion resulting from multiple systems decline [5].

Publicador

BMC Public Health, Volumen 23, número 1960

Enlace del origen de la publicación

Documentación restringida

No

Tipo de publicación

Article

Descriptores

• ADULTOS MAYORES
• MORTALIDAD
• COSTA RICA
• ESTADOS UNIDOS
• FRAGILIDAD