The relationship between cognitive frailty, physical frailty and malnutrition in Turkish older adults

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between cognitive and physical frailty and malnutrition in older adults.

The study was cross-sectional and observational. A total of 992 patients who applied to the geriatric outpatient clinic between January 2018 and December 2022 were included in the study. All patients underwent comprehensive geriatric assessment. Demographic characteristics, geriatric syndromes, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Fried's Frailty Scale was used to determine physical frailty. The Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form was performed to determine nutritional status. Cognitive frailty was defined as the coexistence of physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment.

Of 992 patients participating in the study, 66% were female, and the mean age was 73.2 ± 7.4. The rate of physical frailty was 13.4%, and 96 patients were cognitively frail. Malnutrition rates were 18.8%, 12.5%, and 2.2% in the cognitive frailty, physical frailty, and healthy control groups, respectively. The healthy control group had a lower median age, fewer geriatric syndromes (excluding orthostatic hypotension), and lower rates of diabetes and hypertension than the frailty groups. The frequency of malnutrition was similar in the cognitive and physical frailty groups. The cognitive frailty group had higher median age, sarcopenia rate, and Timed Up and Go duration; were less likely to be female; and showed lower albumin, mobility, and functionality scores than the physical frailty group (P < 0.05). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, geriatric syndromes, and laboratory parameters, cognitive frailty showed a stronger relationship with malnutrition (odds ratio 1.96, confidence interval 1.13-5.04, P = 0.04).

Cognitive and physical frailty were found to be associated with malnutrition in older adults. Even after accounting for confounding factors, it appears that cognitive frailty is more closely related to nutritional status than physical frailty.