FRAILTY AND ITS RELATION WITH GENDER, BALANCE AND COGNITION IN THE GERIATRIC POPULATION OF AHMEDABAD, INDIA

S. Sheth¹, M. Sheth²

¹Khyati Institute of Physiotherapy, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India, ²SBB College of Physiotherapy, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India

Background: According to a report of World Health Organization (WHO) approximately 9.8% of the population of WHO’s South-East Asia Region were above the age of 60 years. This number of aged people is predicted to double by 2050. Frailty is defined as an age-related reduction in functioning of physiological systems causing poor health outcomes. It is essential that geriatric population remains functional and independent. Most developed countries recognize frailty as a multi-system syndrome and a reason for dependence in daily activities.

Purpose: All over the world the number of elderly is increasing. Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) is a multi-dimensional instrument for screening of frailty. There is a need to find the prevalence of frailty syndrome among these elderly people and also establish if there is a relation of frailty with gender, balance and cognition, to understand the impact on other systems.

Methods: An observational analytical study was conducted on older people above the age of 65 years both community dwelling and those living in old age homes using convenience sampling. People with known neurological and musculoskeletal conditions (NPRS > 7) were excluded. Each subject was explained the need, objective, and form of study. They were asked to fill the Tilburg Frailty Indicator. If the individual was found to be frail according to the criteria of the questionnaire, they did the timed up and go (TUG Test). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was taken to assess cognition. Association of frailty scores was tested with gender using the Chi-square test, the correlation of frailty (TFI score) with cognition (MMSE score) and balance (TUG test) was found by Pearson’s correlation test. Confidence interval (CI) was kept at 95%.

Results: From the 200 geriatric people screened 26% were found to be frail. The mean score of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator was 3.23± 2.15. There was an association of frailty scores with the gender χ2 (1) = 0.80(p <0.05, 95% CI 3.98 to 28.14). The correlation of frailty with balance using Pearson’s correlation (r = -.13, p = .35) which is suggestive of no correlation between the two variables. The correlation between the score of physical components of frailty and the TUG test using Pearson correlation showed moderate positive correlation between the two (r=0.46, p<0.00).The correlation of frailty with cognition by Pearson’s correlation was r = -0.33 (p= 0.015).

Conclusions: There is 26% prevalence of frailty in people above 65 years of age in Ahmedabad with women being more affected. There is a moderate significant negative correlation of frailty with cognition and a weak correlation of frailty and balance. There is moderate correlation between the physical component of frailty and balance.

Implications: This study highlights the relation of frailty in geriatric population with gender, balance and cognition. This study shows the importance of screening for frailty while evaluating geriatric population. Older people who are frail need to be aware to avoid falls. Further studies can be done to check if interventions to improve physical components of health, balance and cognition can reduce frailty.

Funding acknowledgements: None taken

Keywords:
Frail
Geriatric
Ambulation

Topics:
Older people
Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing/physical activity

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: SBB College of Physiotherapy

Committee: SBB Institute Review Board

Ethics number: PT7/SV/MS/Geriatrics2017-18