Dataset Information

Multi-dimensional frailty and its risk factors among older residents in long-term care facilities in Shanghai, China.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The integrated model of frailty shifted the physiologically-dominated view to an integrated and multidisciplinary view of frailty and adopted an integrated and holistic approach to the complex challenges facing frail older adults and their caregivers. There is an urgent need for researchers to identify multi-faceted frailty among older adults and to explore contributors to it. We assessed the level of frailty among older residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities in Shanghai, China and explored risk factors of multiple dimensions of frailty among older residents.

Methods

It is a cross-sectional descriptive study. We interviewed 218 older residents from nine LTC facilities. We used Tilburg Frailty Indicator to assess older residents' physiological, psychological, and social frailty. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental state examination, Athens Insomnia Scale, and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Scale were used to assess their depressive symptoms, cognitive function, sleep quality and ADL abilities, respectively.

Results

Older residents have a moderate level of frailty in physiological, psychological and social domains. There is a high correlation among dimensions of frailty. Older residents' depressive symptoms have remained positively associated with their overall and each domain of frailty. Older residents' actual activity participation and exercise in LTC facilities are negatively associated with older residents' overall, physiological and social frailty.

Conclusions

Frailty is a multi-dimensional concept and is prevalent among older residents in LTC facilities. It is important to take an integrated view on frailty and carry out appropriate and comprehensive interventions to prevent adverse outcomes and provide holistic care for frail older residents in LTC facilities. There is an urgent need to improve the quality and expand the number of activities offered within LTC facilities that would engage older residents in a person-centered way, despite their age, ADL abilities, frailty and functional limitations.

SUBMITTER: Wang H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8283709 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:IntroductionElderly residents of nursing homes (NHs) and long-term care units (LTCUs) have been shown to have a high risk of mortality and morbidity in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The objective of this study was to examine the kinetics of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) directed against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in residents of the NH and LTCU units of our University Hospital who were identified with positive serology after the first epidemic outbreak.Materials and methodsThe participants included were sampled every three months for qualitative serological testing, as well as quantitative testing by neutralization tests using retroviral particles containing the S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination using the Comirnaty (Pfizer BNT162b2) vaccine begun before the last serological follow-up.ResultsThe median NAb titer in June 2020 was 80 [40; 60] versus 40 [40; 160] three months later, showing a statistically significant decline (p < 0.007), but remained stable between the three- and six-month timepoints (p = 0.867). By nine months after vaccination, we observed a significant difference between vaccinated residents known to have positive serology before vaccination (SERO+, Vacc+) and those vaccinated without having previously shown COVID-19 seroconversion (SERO-, Vacc+), the latter group showing similar titers to the SERO+, Vacc- participants (p=0.166). The median antibody titer in SERO+, Vacc+ patients increased 15-fold following vaccination.DiscussionHumoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 appears to be persistent in elderly institutionalized patients, with a good post-vaccination response by residents who had already shown seroconversion but a notably diminished response by those who were seronegative before vaccination. To evaluate immunity in its entirety and elaborate a sound vaccination strategy, the cellular immune response via T cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 merits analysis, as this response is susceptible to being affected by immunosenescence.