Prevalence and correlates of frailty among community-dwelling older men and women: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study

Syddall, H.E., Roberts, Helen C., Evandrou, Maria, Cooper, Cyrus, Bergman, Howard and Sayer, Avan Aihie (2009) Prevalence and correlates of frailty among community-dwelling older men and women: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Age and Ageing, 39 (2), 197-203. (doi:10.1093/ageing/afp204).

Abstract

Background: frailty, a multi-dimensional geriatric syndrome, confers a high risk for falls, disability, hospitalisation and mortality. The prevalence and correlates of frailty in the UK are unknown.

Methods: frailty, defined by Fried, was examined among community-dwelling young-old (64–74 years) men (n = 320) and women (n = 318) who participated in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK.

Results: the prevalence of frailty was 8.5% among women and 4.1% among men (P = 0.02). Among men, older age (P = 0.009), younger age of leaving education (P = 0.05), not owning/mortgaging one's home (odds ratio [OR] for frailty 3.45 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.01–11.81], P = 0.05, in comparison with owner/mortgage occupiers) and reduced car availability (OR for frailty 3.57 per unit decrease in number of cars available [95% CI 1.32, 10.0], P = 0.01) were associated with increased odds of frailty. Among women, not owning/mortgaging one's home (P = 0.02) was associated with frailty. With the exception of car availability among men (P = 0.03), all associations were non-significant (P > 0.05) after adjustment for co-morbidity.

Conclusions: frailty is not uncommon even among community-dwelling young-old men and women in the UK. There are social inequalities in frailty which appear to be mediated by co-morbidity.

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Contributors

Author: H.E. Syddall

Author: Maria Evandrou

Author: Cyrus Cooper

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