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The journal of nutrition, health & aging
Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging 9/2016

01-11-2016

Predictors of frailty in old age–results of a longitudinal study

Authors: André Hajek, C. Brettschneider, T. Posselt, C. Lange, S. Mamone, B. Wiese, S. Weyerer, J. Werle, A. Fuchs, M. Pentzek, J. Stein, T. Luck, H. Bickel, E. Mösch, K. Heser, F. Jessen, W. Maier, M. Scherer, S. G. Riedel-Heller, H.-H. König, The Agecode Study Group

Published in: The journal of nutrition, health & aging | Issue 9/2016

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate time-dependent predictors of frailty in old age longitudinally.

Design

Population-based prospective cohort study.

Setting

Elderly individuals were recruited via GP offices at six study centers in Germany. The course of frailty was observed over 1.5 years (follow up wave 4 and follow up wave 5).

Participants

1,602 individuals aged 80 years and older (mean age 85.4 years SD 3.2, with mean CSHA CFS 3.5 SD 1.6) at follow up wave 4.

Measurements

Frailty was assessed by using the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale (CSHA CFS), ranging from 1 (very fit) to 7 (severely frail).

Results

Fixed effects regressions revealed that frailty increased significantly with increasing age (ß=.2) as well as the occurrence of depression (ß=.5) and dementia (ß=.8) in the total sample. Changes in marital status and comorbidity did not affect frailty. While the effects of depression and dementia were significant in women, these effects did not achieve statistical significance in men.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the role of aging as well as the occurrence of dementia and depression for frailty. Specifically, in order to delay frailty in old age, developing interventional strategies to prevent depression might be a fruitful approach.
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Metadata
Title
Predictors of frailty in old age–results of a longitudinal study
Authors
André Hajek
C. Brettschneider
T. Posselt
C. Lange
S. Mamone
B. Wiese
S. Weyerer
J. Werle
A. Fuchs
M. Pentzek
J. Stein
T. Luck
H. Bickel
E. Mösch
K. Heser
F. Jessen
W. Maier
M. Scherer
S. G. Riedel-Heller
H.-H. König
The Agecode Study Group
Publication date
01-11-2016
Publisher
Springer Paris
Published in
The journal of nutrition, health & aging / Issue 9/2016
Print ISSN: 1279-7707
Electronic ISSN: 1760-4788
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0634-5

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