Higher levels of tumor necrosis factor β are associated with frailty in socially vulnerable community-dwelling older adults.
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ABSTRACT: Background
The complex physiology underpinning the frailty syndrome is responsible for the absence of robust biomarkers that can be used for screening, diagnostic and/or prognostic purposes and has made clinical implementation difficult. Considering socially vulnerable populations, who have poor health status and increased morbidity and mortality, this scenario is even more complex. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies available to investigate frailty biomarkers in socially vulnerable populations. Thus, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify potential blood-based biomarkers of frailty in a socially vulnerable population.Methods
A sample consisting of 347 community-dwelling older people living in a context of high social vulnerability was divided into non-frail (robust), pre-frail and frail groups, according to modified Fried frailty phenotype criteria. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for basic metabolic parameters and for inflammatory cytokines.Results
Levels of Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) were significantly higher in pre-frail subjects, compared to non-frail ones. Tumor Necrosis Factor β (TNF-β) levels presented higher values in the frail compared to non-frail individuals. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in pre-frail and frail subjects were significantly higher compared to the levels of non-frail subjects. Using an ordinal regression analysis, we observed that socially vulnerable older people at higher risk of developing frailty were subjects above 80 years old (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1-5.6) and who presented higher levels of TNF-β (≥0.81 pg/mL, OR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.3-4.9).Conclusion
As vulnerable populations continue to age, it is imperative to have a greater understanding of the frailty condition, identifying novel potential blood-based biomarkers. The results presented here could help to implement preventive healthcare strategies by evaluating frailty and at the same time measuring a set of inflammatory biomarkers, paying special attention to TNF-β plasmatic levels.
SUBMITTER: Nascimento CMC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6219095 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC9633836 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC5679620 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC8001836 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundFrailty and multimorbidity are independent prognostic factors for mortality, but their interaction has not been fully explored. We investigated the importance of multimorbidity patterns in older adults with the same level of frailty phenotype.MethodsIn a cohort of 7,197 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, physical frailty status (robust, pre-frail, frail) was defined using shrinking, exhaustion, inactivity, slowness, and weakness. Latent class analysis was used to identify individuals with multimorbidity patterns based on 10 self-reported chronic conditions. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and incidence rate differences (IRDs) for mortality comparing multimorbidity patterns within each frailty state.ResultsFive multimorbidity classes were identified: minimal disease (24.7%), cardiovascular disease (29.0%), osteoarticular disease (27.3%), neuropsychiatric disease (8.9%), and high multisystem morbidity (10.0%). Within each frailty state, the mortality rate per 1,000 person-years over 4 years was greatest in the neuropsychiatric class and lowest in the minimal disease class: robust (56.3 vs 15.7; HR, 2.11 [95% CI: 1.05, 4.21]; IRD, 24.1 [95% CI: -11.2, 59.3]), pre-frail (85.3 vs 40.4; HR, 1.74 [95% CI: 1.28, 2.37]; IRD, 27.1 [95% CI: 7.6, 46.7]), and frail (218.1 vs 96.4; HR, 2.05 [95% CI: 1.36, 3.10]; IRD, 108.4 [95% CI: 65.0, 151.9]). Although HRs did not vary widely by frailty, the excess number of deaths, as reflected by IRDs, increased with greater frailty level.ConclusionsConsidering both multimorbidity patterns and frailty is important for identifying older adults at greater risk of mortality. Of the five patterns identified, the neuropsychiatric class was associated with lower survival across all frailty levels.
| S-EPMC6625582 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome, which is a worldwide concern within the field of geriatrics due to the aggravating effect on the physical and mental functions of the elderly. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of the frailty syndrome among urban-living community-dwelling elderly in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 community-dwelling elders. Frailty status was assessed using the Fried phenotype criteria. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (M-GDS-14), whereas the functional abilities and cognitive status were measured using the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (Lawton IADL) scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-M), respectively. Malnutrition risk was observed through the abridged version (Short Form) of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the significant predictors of the frailty syndrome. Three hundred and one elderly persons engaged in this study, with a mean age of 67.08 ± 5.536 ranging between 60 to 84 years old. The prevalence values of frailty and pre-frail were 15.9% and 72.8%, respectively, in which women appeared to be at a higher risk of frailty. The multivariate model revealed that frailty could be predicted from an increase in age, lower household income, being at risk of malnutrition, wasting (low skeletal muscle mass), and high serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level. A holistic approach is suggested for managing the frailty syndrome as it involves a decline in the multiple components of the geriatric syndrome.
| S-EPMC7557756 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundFrailty remains an elusive concept despite many efforts to define and measure it. The difficulty in translating the clinical profile of frail elderly people into a quantifiable assessment tool is due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of their health problems. Viewing frailty as a 'latent vulnerability' in older people this study aims to derive a model based measurement of frailty and examines its internal reliability in community dwelling elderly.MethodThe British Women's Heart and Health Study (BWHHS) cohort of 4286 women aged 60-79 years from 23 towns in Britain provided 35 frailty indicators expressed as binary categorical variables. These indicators were corrected for measurement error and assigned relative weights in its association with frailty. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) reduced the data to a smaller number of factors and was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) which restricted the model by fitting the EFA-driven structure to observed data. Cox regression analysis compared the hazard ratios for adverse outcomes of the newly developed British frailty index (FI) with a widely known FI. This process was replicated in the MRC Assessment study of older people, a larger cohort drawn from 106 general practices in Britain.ResultsSeven factors explained the association between frailty indicators: physical ability, cardiac symptoms/disease, respiratory symptoms/disease, physiological measures, psychological problems, co-morbidities and visual impairment. Based on existing concepts and statistical indices of fit, frailty was best described using a General Specific Model. The British FI would serve as a better population metric than the FI as it enables people with varying degrees of frailty to be better distinguished over a wider range of scores. The British FI was a better independent predictor of all-cause mortality, hospitalization and institutionalization than the FI in both cohorts.ConclusionsFrailty is a multidimensional concept represented by a wide range of latent (not directly observed) attributes. This new measure provides more precise information than is currently recognized, of which cluster of frailty indicators are important in older people. This study could potentially improve quality of life among older people through targeted efforts in early prevention and treatment of frailty.
| S-EPMC2988728 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe gap between the average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy remains wide. Understanding the natural history of frailty development is necessary to prevent and treat frailty to overcome this gap. This study elucidated the trajectories of 5 frailty assessment components using group-based multitrajectory modeling.MethodsOverall, 845 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65-91 years; 433 males and 412 females) who underwent longitudinal frailty assessments at least 3 times were included in the analysis. The mean follow-up period (±SD, range) was 7.1 (±2.3, 3.8-11.3) years. In each wave, the physical frailty was assessed for the following 5 partially modified components of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria: shrinking, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low activity. Using group-based multitrajectory modeling, we identified subgroups that followed distinctive trajectories regarding the 5 frailty components.ResultsFive frailty trajectory groups were identified: weakness-focused frail progression group (Group 1 [G1]; 10.9%), robust maintenance group (Group 2 [G2]; 43.7%), exhaustion-focused prefrail group (Group 3 [G3]; 24.3%), frail progression group (Group 4 [G4]; 6.7%), and low activity-focused prefrail group (Group 5 [G5]; 14.4%). The Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that G1, G4, and G5 had significantly higher mortality risks after adjusting for sex and age (G2 was the reference group).ConclusionBased on the natural history of frailty, the 5 distinctive trajectory groups showed that some individuals remained robust, while others remained predominantly prefrail or progressed primarily owing to physical mobility decline. Therefore, identifying individuals belonging to these progressive frailty groups and providing interventions according to the characteristics of each group may be beneficial.
| S-EPMC9536447 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDue to the rapidly increasing number of older people worldwide, the prevalence of frailty among older adults is expected to escalate in coming decades. It is crucial to recognize early onset symptoms to initiate specific preventive care. Therefore, early detection of frailty with appropriate screening instruments is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the underlying dimensionality of the Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI), a widely used self-report screening instrument for identifying frail older adults. In addition, criterion validity of GFI subscales was examined and composition of GFI scores was evaluated.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the structural validity, internal consistency and criterion validity of the GFI questionnaire in older adults aged 65 years and older. All subjects completed the GFI questionnaire (n = 1508). To assess criterion validity, a smaller sample of 119 older adults completed additional questionnaires: De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, RAND-36 physical functioning, and perceived general health item of the EuroQol-5D. Exploratory factor analysis and Mokken scale analysis were used to evaluate the structural validity of the GFI. A Venn diagram was constructed to show the composition of GFI subscale scores for frail subjects.ResultsThe factor structure of the GFI supported a three-dimensional structure of the scale. The subscales Daily Activities and Psychosocial Functioning showed good internal consistency, scalability, and criterion validity (Daily Activities: Cronbach's ? = 0.81, H(s) = .84, r = -.62; Psychosocial Functioning: Cronbach's ? = 0.80, H(s) = .35, r = -.48). The subscale Health Problems showed less strong internal consistency but acceptable scalability and criterion validity (Cronbach's ? = .57, H(s) = .35, r = -.48). The present data suggest that 90% of the frail older adults experience problems in the Psychosocial Functioning domain.ConclusionsThe present findings support a three-dimensional factor structure of the GFI, suggesting that a multidimensional assessment of frailty with the GFI is possible. These GFI subscale scores produce a richer assessment of frailty than with a single overall sum GFI score, and likely their use will contribute to more directed and customized care for older adults.
| S-EPMC3766248 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionFrailty is recognized as one of the most important global health challenges as the population is aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence and incidence of frailty, and associated factors, among the population of older adults in Slovenia compared to other European countries.MethodsThe prevalence and 4-year incidence of frailty among older adults (≥65 years) were evaluated using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Frailty was defined by the SHARE operationalization of Frailty phenotype. Multiple logistic regression model was used to explore factors associated with frailty.ResultsAge-standardized prevalence (95% CI) of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 14.9% (13.3-16.5) and 42.5% (39.8-45.2), respectively. Factors (OR, 95% CI) associated with increased frailty in Slovenia included age (7584 years: 5.03 (3.08-8.22); ≥85 years 21.7 (10.6-44.7) vs. 65-74 years), self-rated health (fair: 4.58 (2.75-7.61), poor: 54.6 (28.1-105.9) vs. excellent/very good/good), number of chronic diseases (1.20 (1.03-1.40)), and polypharmacy (yes: 3.25 (1.93-5.48) vs. no). Female gender and lower education were significantly associated with pre-frailty, but not frailty, in the adjusted model. Independently of these characteristics, age-standardized prevalence of frailty varied among geographical regions. Age-standardized 4-year incidence of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 6.6% (3.0-10.1) and 40.2% (32.7-47.6), respectively.ConclusionAmong the Slovenian population of older adults aged 65 years and older, the age-standardized prevalence of frailty is 15% and 4-year incidence of frailty is 7%. Regional differences in Slovenia show the lowest prevalence in central Slovenian regions and the highest in northeastern Slovenian regions.
| S-EPMC8256771 | biostudies-literature