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Interventions for Frailty Among Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.
Ijaz, N, Buta, B, Xue, QL, Mohess, DT, Bushan, A, Tran, H, Batchelor, W, deFilippi, CR, Walston, JD, Bandeen-Roche, K, et al
Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2022;(5):482-503
Abstract
With the aging of the world's population, a large proportion of patients seen in cardiovascular practice are older adults, but many patients also exhibit signs of physical frailty. Cardiovascular disease and frailty are interdependent and have the same physiological underpinning that predisposes to the progression of both disease processes. Frailty can be defined as a phenomenon of increased vulnerability to stressors due to decreased physiological reserves in older patients and thus leads to poor clinical outcomes after cardiovascular insults. There are various pathophysiologic mechanisms for the development of frailty: cognitive decline, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and lack of social supports; these risk factors provide opportunity for various types of interventions that aim to prevent, improve, or reverse the development of frailty syndrome in the context of cardiovascular disease. There is no compelling study demonstrating a successful intervention to improve a global measure of frailty. Emerging data from patients admitted with heart failure indicate that interventions associated with positive outcomes on frailty and physical function are multidimensional and include tailored cardiac rehabilitation. Contemporary cardiovascular practice should actively identify patients with physical frailty who could benefit from frailty interventions and aim to deliver these therapies in a patient-centered model to optimize quality of life, particularly after cardiovascular interventions.
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Physical Activity Patterns, Psychosocial Well-Being and Coping Strategies Among Older Persons with Cognitive Frailty of the "WE-RISE" Trial Throughout the COVID-19 Movement Control Order.
Murukesu, RR, Singh, DKA, Shahar, S, Subramaniam, P
Clinical interventions in aging. 2021;:415-429
Abstract
PURPOSE Older persons have been identified as a vulnerable population with respect to the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. Aiming to "flatten the curve" a strict Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented in Malaysia. Older adults with cognitive frailty are prone to physical, cognitive and psychosocial decline. This study aims to compare physical activity patterns, psychological wellbeing and coping strategies of older persons with cognitive frailty in the "WE-RISE" trial (intervention versus control) throughout this period. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted as a sub-analysis of the ongoing "WE-RISE" randomized controlled trial. This study included 42 community-dwelling older adults, aged 60 years and above, with cognitive frailty, stratified into intervention (n=21) and control (n=21) groups who are receiving a multi-domain intervention and usual care, respectively, within the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Phone call interviews were conducted during the MCO period. Physical activity patterns were assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Psychological wellbeing was assessed using Flourishing Scale (FS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) assessed coping strategies. Data were analysed descriptively and with independent samples t-test. RESULTS The WE-RISE intervention group had significantly higher levels of estimated resting energy expenditure (MET) for "walking activity" (I:μ=1723.1±780.7;C:μ=537.4±581.9)(p<0.001), "moderate activity" (I:μ=1422.8±1215.1;C:μ=405.7±746.9)(p=0.002) and "total physical activity" (I: μ=3625.9±3399.3;C:μ=994.6±1193.9)(p=0.002). The intervention group was also significantly more independent in functional activities (μ=1.76±1.73) as compared to the control group (μ=5.57±8.31) (p<0.05). Moreover, significant higher self-perception of living a meaningful life and feeling respected (p<0.05) was demonstrated in regard to psychological well-being in the intervention group. Regarding coping strategies, the intervention group relied significantly on the domains of religion (I:μ=6.43±0.99;C:μ=6.09±1.09)(p<0.05) and planning (I:μ=4.81±0.75; C:μ=4.04±1.28)(p<0.05) whilst the control group relied on humour (C:μ=3.14±1.19; I:μ=2.38±0.74)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION Participants of the WE-RISE intervention group were more physically active, functionally independent and had higher self-perceived social-psychological prosperity regarding living a meaningful life and feeling respected; whilst both groups relied on positive coping strategies during the MCO. These results indicate that it is vital to ensure older persons with cognitive frailty remain physically active and preserve their psychosocial wellbeing to be more resilient in preventing further decline during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Multidomain Intervention for Reversal of Cognitive Frailty, Towards a Personalized Approach (AGELESS Trial): Study Design.
Ponvel, P, Shahar, S, Singh, DKA, Ludin, AFM, Rajikan, R, Rajab, NF, Ai-Vyrn, C, Din, NC, Ibrahim, N, Subramaniam, P, et al
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2021;(2):673-687
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive frailty (CF) is identified as one of the main precursors of dementia. Multidomain intervention has been found to delay or prevent the onset of CF. OBJECTIVE The aim of our present study is to determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive, multidomain intervention on CF; to evaluate its cost effectiveness and the factors influencing adherence toward this intensive intervention. METHODS A total of 1,000 community dwelling older adults, aged 60 years and above will be screened for CF. This randomized controlled trial involves recruitment of 330 older adults with CF from urban, semi-urban, and rural areas in Malaysia. Multidomain intervention comprised of physical, nutritional, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects will be provided to participants in the experimental group (n = 165). The control group (n = 165) will continue their usual care with their physician. Primary outcomes include CF status, physical function, psychosocial and nutritional status as well as cognitive performance. Vascular health and gut microbiome will be assessed using blood and stool samples. A 24-month intensive intervention will be prescribed to the participants and its sustainability will be assessed for the following 12 months. The effective intervention strategies will be integrated as a personalized telerehabilitation package for the reversal of CF for future use. RESULTS The multidomain intervention developed from this trial is expected to be cost effective compared to usual care as well as able is to reverse CF. CONCLUSION This project will be part of the World-Wide FINGERS (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) Network, of which common identifiable data will be shared and harmonized among the consortia.
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Social factors associated with reversing frailty progression in community-dwelling late-stage elderly people: An observational study.
Takatori, K, Matsumoto, D
PloS one. 2021;(3):e0247296
Abstract
Frailty is considered to be a complex concept based mainly on physical vulnerability, but also vulnerabilities in mental/psychological and social aspects. Frailty can be reversible with appropriate intervention; however, factors that are important in recovering from frailty have not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to identify factors that help an individual reverse frailty progression and characteristics of individuals that have recovered from frailty. Community-dwelling people aged ≥75 years who responded to the Kihon Checklist (KCL) were enrolled in the study. The KCL consists of 25 yes/no questions in 7 areas: daily-life related activities, motor functions, nutritional status, oral functions, homebound, cognitive functions, and depressed mood. The number of social activities, degree of trust in the community, degree of interaction with neighbors, and subjective age were also evaluated. Frailty was assessed based on the number of checked items: 0-3 for robust, 4-7 for pre-frailty, and ≥8 for frailty. A total of 5050 participants were included for statistical analysis. At the time of the baseline survey in 2016, 18.7% (n = 942) of respondents had frailty, and the follow-up survey showed that the recovery rate from frailty within 2 years (median 24 months) was 31.8% (n = 300). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that exercise-based social participation (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-3.4; P<0.01) and self-rated health (OR 1.2, CI 1.0-1.5; P = 0.02) were related to reversing frailty progression. Principal component analysis indicated that the main factors constituting the first principal component (contribution rate, 18.3%) included items related to social capital, such as interaction with neighbors, trust in the community, and number of social participation activities. Our results demonstrate that exercise-based social participation and high self-rated health have associations with reversing frailty progression. Individuals that recovered from frailty are characterized by high individual-level social capital components (i.e., trust in community, interaction with neighbors, and social participation).
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Impact of nutritional status according to GLIM criteria on the risk of incident frailty and mortality in community-dwelling older adults.
Rodríguez-Mañas, L, Rodríguez-Sánchez, B, Carnicero, JA, Rueda, R, García-Garcia, FJ, Pereira, SL, Sulo, S
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2021;(3):1192-1198
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Poor nutritional status leads to multiple adverse outcomes, but few studies have assessed its role as a risk factor for incident frailty and death in community-dwelling older adults. Hence, the aim of this paper is to assess the role of nutritional status using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in the risk of frailty and mortality in Spanish community-dwelling older adults. METHODS We used data from two waves (waves 2 (2011-2013) and 3 (2015-2017)) from the Toledo Study of Healthy Ageing, which is an observational, prospective cohort (average follow-up = 3.18 years) of 1660 older (≥65 years) adults living in the community. Nutritional status categories were defined according to the GLIM criteria, which uses a two-step approach. First, screening for malnutrition risk. Once positive, individuals were classified as malnourished according to some phenotypic (body mass index, grip strength and unintentional weight loss) and etiologic (disease burden/inflammation and reduced food intake or assimilation) criteria. Frailty was assessed using both the Frailty Index (FI) and Frailty Trait Scale (FTS). Mortality data was obtained through the National Death Index. RESULTS From the 1660 older adults, 248 participants (14.04%) were classified as 'at malnutrition risk' (AMR) and 209 (12.59%) as malnourished (MN). AMR and MN subjects were older and with worse functional status (frailer). Adjusted cross-sectional analysis showed an association between nutritional status and frailty by both FI and FTS. Adjusted longitudinal analyses showed that AMR was associated with higher risk of frailty, using both the FTS (OR: 1.262; 95% CI: 1.078-1.815) and the FI (OR: 1.116; 95% CI: 1.098-1.686), while being malnourished was associated with higher mortality risk (OR: 1.748; 95% CI: 1.073-2.849), but not with incident frailty at follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Nutritional status, assessed through GLIM, predicts in a dose-dependent manner the risk of frailty and death. Being at malnutrition risk predicts the risk of becoming frail at follow-up period, whereas being malnourished predicts mortality. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults to identify the ones at risk of developing frailty or death and inform targeted nutrition-focused interventions.
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Immunomodulatory effect of in vitro calcitriol in fit and frail elderly.
Rizka, A, Setiati, S, Sadikin, M, Mansur, IG
International immunopharmacology. 2021;:107737
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Effect of calcitriol on PBMCs of healthy adults have been well studied but not much is known about its effect on the PBMCs of elderly patients with various degree of frailty syndrome and immune senescence. This study was aimed to assess the effect of in vitro calcitriol immunomodulatory effect on IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ in elderly patients who were fit, pre-frail and frail to see which group of patients might get the most benefit of calcitriol. METHODS This study was an experimental study on the PBMCs of 24 elderly people, of which 8 subjects each were in fit, pre-frail and frail categories based on the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ were examined by ELISA, before and after administration of lipopolysaccharide and 100 pg/mL calcitriol into PBMC cultures in vitro. RESULT The mean serum vitamin D level was 26.2 (2.4) ng/ml. Vitamin D level is decreasing along with worsening of frailty status. After LPS induction, calcitriol did not reduce IL-6 and IFN-γ in all the groups. Calcitriol increased IL-10 in all groups, with the most observed change in the pre-frail group. CONCLUSION In vitro administration of calcitriol showed anti-inflammatory potential by increasing IL-10 mainly in pre-frail subjects.
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Risk Factors of Progression to Frailty: Findings from the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study.
Cheong, CY, Nyunt, MSZ, Gao, Q, Gwee, X, Choo, RWM, Yap, KB, Wee, SL, Ng, TP
The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2020;(1):98-106
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate risk factors of incident physical frailty. DESIGN A population-based observational longitudinal study. SETTING Community-dwelling elderly with age 55 years and above recruited from 2009 through 2011 in the second wave Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study-2 (SLAS-2) were followed up 3-5 years later. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1297 participants, mean age of 65.6 ±0.19, who were free of physical frailty. MEASUREMENTS Incident frailty defined by three or more criteria of the physical phenotype used in the Cardiovascular Health Study was determined at follow-up. Potential risk factors assessed at baseline included demographic, socioeconomic, medical, psychological factors, and biochemical markers. RESULTS A total of 204 (15.7%) participants, including 81 (10.87%) of the robust and 123 (22.28%) of the prefrail transited to frailty at follow-up. Age, no education, MMSE score, diabetes, prediabetes and diabetes, arthritis, ≥5 medications, fair and poor self-rated health, moderate to high nutritional risk (NSI ≥3), Hb (g/dL), CRP (mg/L), low B12, low folate, albumin (g/L), low total cholesterol, adjusted for sex, age and education, were significantly associated (p<0.05) with incident frailty. In stepwise selection models, age (year) (OR=1.07, 95%CI=1.03-1.10, p<0.001), albumin (g/L) (OR=0.85, 95%CI=0.77-0.94, p=0.002), MMSE score (OR=0.88, 95%CI=0.78-0.98, p=0.02), low folate (OR=3.72, 95%CI=1.17-11.86, p=0.03, and previous hospitalization (OR=2.26, 95%CI=1.01-5.04,p=0.05) were significantly associated with incident frailty. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed multiple modifiable risk factors, especially related to poor nutrition, for which preventive measures and early management could potentially halt or delay the development of frailty.
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The Association of a Frailty Index and Incident Delirium in Older Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study.
Sillner, AY, McConeghy, RO, Madrigal, C, Culley, DJ, Arora, RC, Rudolph, JL
Clinical interventions in aging. 2020;:2053-2061
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND Frailty identifies patients that have vulnerability to stress. Acute illness and hospitalization are stressors that may result in delirium and further accelerate the negative consequences of frailty. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine whether frailty, identified at hospital admission and as measured by a frailty index, is associated with incident delirium. METHODS A retrospective, observational, cohort study was done at a Veterans hospital between January 2013 and March 2014. English-speaking patients over 55 years were eligible. Exclusion criteria included inability to complete baseline assessments due to pre-existing cognitive impairment, emergent surgery; and/or admission from a nursing home, pre-existing delirium, and those with psychiatric disease or substance use disorder. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Frailty index (FI) variables included cognitive screening, physical function and comorbidities. The FI was calculated as a proportion of possible deficits (range 0 to 1; higher scores indicate increased frailty). Incident delirium was measured daily by an expert clinician interview. RESULTS A total of 247 patients were admitted and 218 met inclusion/exclusion criteria, with a mean age of 71.54 years (SD = 9.53 years) and were predominantly white (92.7%) and male (91.7%). Participants were grouped using FI ranges as non-frail (FI <0.25, n=56 (26%)), pre-frail (FI =0.25-0.35, n=86 (39%)), and frail (FI >0.35, n=76 (35%)). Pre-frailty and frailty were associated with incident delirium (non-frail: 3.6% vs pre-frail: 20.9% vs frail: 29.3%, p=0.001) and total delirium days (mean day =non-frail 0.04 vs pre-frail 0.35 vs frail 0.57, p=0.003). After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, pre-frail (adjusted OR=5.64, 95% CI: 1.23, 25.99) and frail status (adjusted OR=6.80, 95% CI: 1.38, 33.45) were independently associated with delirium. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that a frailty index is independently associated with incident delirium and suggests that admission assessments for frailty may identify patients at high risk of developing delirium.
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The impact of home-delivered meal services on the nutritional intake of community living older adults: a systematic literature review.
Walton, K, do Rosario, VA, Pettingill, H, Cassimatis, E, Charlton, K
Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association. 2020;(1):38-47
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a global increase in populations aged over 65 years. Physiological changes that occur during ageing may increase the nutritional risk for older adults. To avoid malnutrition and address some of the barriers to obtain an adequate food supply, home-delivered meals services provide meals in the home or in congregate settings for older adults who require nutritional support. METHODS This systematic literature review explored whether nutritional intake is improved in community-living older adults when receiving meal services compared to when meal services are not received. Four electronic databases were searched up to 31 January 2019. In total, 13 original studies were included in this analysis with the components: intervention of home-delivered meal or congregate meal services to older adults; comparison with groups not receiving meal services or days not receiving the meal service; and nutritional intake as an outcome measured by food history, dietary recall and/or food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS The results supported a beneficial effect of home-delivered meals on dietary intake of energy, protein and/or certain micronutrients in older adults. CONCLUSIONS The increased total energy intake is a positive influence on malnutrition risk in frail older adults and the increased protein intake supports good health, promotes recovery from illness and assists in maintaining functionality in older adults. Additionally, there was a particular increase in calcium intake, which is relevant in ageing, especially for bone health.
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Protein-Related Dietary Parameters and Frailty Status in Older Community-Dwellers across Different Frailty Instruments.
Coelho-Júnior, HJ, Calvani, R, Picca, A, Gonçalves, IO, Landi, F, Bernabei, R, Cesari, M, Uchida, MC, Marzetti, E
Nutrients. 2020;(2)
Abstract
The present study investigated the associations between frailty status and (a) daily protein intake, (b) daily body weight-adjusted protein intake, (c) branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) consumption, (d) evenness of protein distribution across main meals, (e) number of daily meals providing at least 30 g of protein, and (f) number of daily meals providing at least 0.4 g protein/kg of body weight in community-dwelling older adults. The relationship between frailty status and protein-related dietary parameters was explored across different frailty assessment tools. Two hundred older adults were enrolled in the study. Participant frailty status was determined according to a modified Fried's frailty phenotype (mFP), the FRAIL scale, and the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture (SOF) index. Diet was assessed by 24-h dietary recall, while diet composition was estimated using a nutritional software. A frailty instrument-dependent relationship was observed between frailty status and protein-related dietary parameters. Protein consumption was associated with frailty status only in participants identified as frail according to the mFP. In addition, protein and BCAA intake was found to be greater in robust and pre-frail participants relative to their frail counterparts. Our findings suggest that the association between frailty and protein-related dietary parameters is tool dependent. Specifically, protein and BCAA consumption appears to be lower only in older adults identified as frail by the mFP.