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Clinical and functional characterization of pre-frailty among elderly patients consulting primary care centres

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Background

Characterization of the main features of pre-frailty may contribute to better understanding the mechanisms involved in the development of frailty.

Objective

To characterize the pre-frail population consulting in primary care centres in Mataró (Catalonia, Spain), to describe the Fried’s frailty criteria for this population and to identify the main associated factors.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Three primary care centres in Catalonia.

Participants

Pre-frail subjects recruited from among persons aged 70 years and older consulting primary care centres and screened for frailty according to Fried’s criteria.

Measurements

Clinical, nutritional and functional data.

Results

Frailty prevalence of 31.0% and pre-frailty prevalence of 49.0% were observed. Comorbidity was not especially frequent among elderly individuals classified as pre-frail (except for diabetes with 35.8% prevalence). Functional status and nutritional status were both reasonably satisfactory in pre-frail subjects with mean Barthel score of 98 points and 91% classified as well nourished. Among pre-frail subjects, 35% were obese (body mass index>30); 75% reported pain; 12% had an accidental fall in the previous three months; and the mean number of medications ingested was 6.2. Weakness was the most prevalent frailty criterion (70%), followed by slowness (30%). Weakness was associated with age in men and with pain in women. Poor physical activity was associated with pain.

Conclusions

Pre-frailty is very common among elderly subjects consulting primary care centres. Weakness, slowness, diabetes, pain and polypharmacy should alert healthcare professionals to the onset of a frailty process.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    Mateu Serra-Prat & X. Sist

  2. Centro de Investiación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain

    Mateu Serra-Prat

  3. ABS Mataró Centre, ConsorciSanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    A. Saiz & R. Domenich

  4. ABS Cirera-Molins,ConsorciSanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    L. Jurado & A. Roces

  5. ABS Argentona,ConsorciSanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Papiol

Authors
  1. Mateu Serra-Prat
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  2. X. Sist
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  3. A. Saiz
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  4. L. Jurado
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  5. R. Domenich
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  6. A. Roces
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  7. M. Papiol
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Correspondence to Mateu Serra-Prat.

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Serra-Prat, M., Sist, X., Saiz, A. et al. Clinical and functional characterization of pre-frailty among elderly patients consulting primary care centres. J Nutr Health Aging 20, 653–658 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0684-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0684-3

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