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Does frailty predict increased risk of falls and fractures? A prospective population-based study

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Abstract

Summary

A frailty concept that includes psychological and cognitive markers was prospectively shown to be associated with increased risk of multiple falls and fractures among 1,509 community dwelling older adults, especially in those aged 75 and over. The predictive ability of frailty is not superior to falls history.

Introduction

The concept of frailty has been defined with or without psychological and cognitive markers. Falls are associated with multiple risk factors, including cognitive and mood disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of a comprehensive concept of frailty and its components with falls and fractures in community-dwelling older adults and to compare its predictive ability with having a history of falls.

Methods

One thousand five hundred nine participants in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam aged ≥65 were assessed to determine fall history and the prevalence of nine frailty markers, including cognitive and psychological factors. The number of falls and time to second fall were prospectively registered for 1 year. Fractures were registered for 6 years.

Results

Frailty was significantly associated with time to second fall: hazard ratio of 1.53 [95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.07–2.18] and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.58 (CI, 0.53–0.62). In participants aged ≥75, frailty was associated with ≥2 falls: odds ratio (OR) of 1.74 (CI, 1.19–2.55) and AUC of 0.62 (CI, 0.55–0.68). Frailty, adjusted for age and sex, was significantly associated with ≥2 fractures: OR of 3.67 (CI, 1.47–9.15). The AUCs for falls history (aged ≥75) ranged from 0.62 (CI, 0.58–0.67) for ≥1 falls to 0.67 (CI, 0.59–0.74) for ≥3 falls.

Conclusions

A concept of frailty including psychological and cognitive markers is associated with both multiple falls and fractures. However, frailty is not superior to falls history for the selection of old persons at increased risk of recurrent falls.

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Abbreviations

HR:

Hazard ratio

OR:

Odds ratio

AUC:

Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve

CI:

95 % confidence interval

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    O. J. de Vries & P. Lips

  2. School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    G. M. E. E. Peeters

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    D. J. H. Deeg

Authors
  1. O. J. de Vries
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  2. G. M. E. E. Peeters
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  3. P. Lips
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  4. D. J. H. Deeg
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Correspondence to O. J. de Vries.

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de Vries, O.J., Peeters, G.M.E.E., Lips, P. et al. Does frailty predict increased risk of falls and fractures? A prospective population-based study. Osteoporos Int 24, 2397–2403 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2303-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-013-2303-z

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