Frequency of frailty and its association with cognitive status and survival in older Chileans

Abstract

© 2017 Albala et al.Background: Age-associated brain physiologic decline and reduced mobility are key elements of increased age-associated vulnerability. Objective: To study the frequency of frailty phenotype and its association with mental health and survival in older Chileans. Methods: Follow-up of ALEXANDROS cohorts designed to study disability associated with obesity in community-dwelling people 60 years and older living in Santiago, Chile. At baseline, 2,098 (67% women) of 2,372 participants were identified as having the frailty phenotype: weak handgrip dynamometry, unintentional weight loss, fatigue/exhaustion, five chair-stands/ slow walking speed and difficulty walking (low physical activity). After 10–15 years, 1,298 people were evaluated and 373 had died. Information regarding deaths was available for the whole sample. Results: The prevalence of frailty at baseline ($3 criteria) in the whole sample was 13.9% (women 16.4%; men 8.7%) and the pre-frailty prevalence (1–2 criteria