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Israel Journal of Health Policy Research
Published in: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Original research article

Estimated frailty prevalence among Israeli elderly – results from a cross sectional national survey

Authors: Assaf Buch, Lital Keinan-Boker, Yitshal Berner, Eli Carmeli, Rebecca Goldsmith, Naftali Stern

Published in: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Increasing longevity presents new social and medical challenges in developed countries. The prevalence of frailty is of interest because of its association with health prognosis and outcomes, but so far there is no single best diagnostic tool for this entity. Therefore, estimated prevalence of frailty in countries varies considerably and ranges between 5% and 58%. In Israel, the nation-wide prevalence of frailty in the elderly population is presently unknown. The objective of our study was to assess the rate of the frailty in elderly Israelis.

Methods

A post-hoc analysis based on the results of a national Health and Nutrition Survey in Israeli elderly (MABAT Zahav). A non-direct model to estimate frailty was based on five components that were most similar to the common frailty assessment suggested by Morley et al. The frailty state was then reclassified according to different explanatory variables.

Results

Data collected from 1619 subjects (F/M = 52.9/47.1%) with an average age of 74.6 years were analyzed. Estimated frailty prevalence in the elderly population was 4.9%. Frail people were more likely to have a lower income, be unemployed and have a lower education level. Frailty rates were higher in women, in Jews and in subjects more prone to low physical function.

Conclusions

The estimated frailty prevalence in the Israeli elderly population, while relatively low, is comparable to some of the rates suggested in the literature. The factors associated with frailty in the Israeli population are in accordance with the existing literature. The suggested model may be helpful in identifying frailty in Israeli elderly.
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Metadata
Title
Estimated frailty prevalence among Israeli elderly – results from a cross sectional national survey
Authors
Assaf Buch
Lital Keinan-Boker
Yitshal Berner
Eli Carmeli
Rebecca Goldsmith
Naftali Stern
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Israel Journal of Health Policy Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2045-4015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-018-0212-5

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