Factors Associated with Frailty Syndrome in Older Adults

Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome, characterized by a decrease in energy reserve and stress resistance, resulting in an accumulated decline of multiple physiological systems and greater vulnerability. Frailty syndrome has a multifactorial etiology involving a biological basis associated with sociobehavioral factors. We verify the association of frailty syndrome with family functionality level, nutritional status and medication adherence in older adults.

Observational and analytical study.

Conducted at ambulatory the university hospital, with patients aged 60 years or older.

Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and Body Mass Index, BMI; the 5-item FRAIL scale was used for frailty screening; family functioning was assessed using the Family APGAR Index, which evaluates Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve; Self-reported medication adherence was measured by the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8).

The study involved 308 older adults, with a mean age of 70.40 years, There was an association between frailty and highly dysfunctional family with an OR of 5.9 (95% CI 1.9-18.5)(p<0.05), nutritional risk assessed by BMI, where low weight presented an OR of 2.5 (95% CI 1.1-5.8) and obesity an OR of 2.8 (95% CI 1.1-7.0)(P <0.05) and a nutritional risk assessed by MNA with an OR 6.3(95% CI 1.9-20.4) and low medication adherence with an OR of 8.9 (95% CI, 3.6-21.6)(P = 0.01).

Frailty syndrome is associated with high levels of family dysfunction, nutritional risk and poor medication adherence amongst older people.