Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
Published on: July 24, 2013
Predictors of Frailty in Old Age - Results of a Longitudinal Study
A Hajek1, C Brettschneider, T Posselt
1JDr. André Hajek, University Medical Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Telephone +49 40 7410 52877; Fax +49 40 7410 40261,
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 (β=.2) as well as the occurrence of depression (β=.5) and dementia (β=.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.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...