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Yang F, Guo Y. Does Medical Insurance Integration Reduce Frailty Risk? Evidence From Rural Older Adults in China. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae112. [PMID: 38887098 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess the impacts of China's health insurance integration reform on frailty among rural older adults. METHODS Nationally representative longitudinal data with 2,751 adults aged ≥60 years were analyzed from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2015. The integration of the rural New Cooperative Medical Scheme and urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance into the unified Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI). Frailty Index (FI) summarizes 32 health deficits, quantifying frailty severity with a range of 0-1. Frailty is defined as FI ≥ 0.25, prefrailty as FI: 0.10-0.25, and robustness as FI < 0.10. Frailty worsening, stability, and improvement from 2011 to 2015 were assessed. Difference-in-differences and propensity score matched difference-in-differences models assessed URRBMI integration effects on frailty severity and risk (FI ≥ 0.25) among rural older adults. RESULTS URRBMI integration significantly reduced frailty severity by 15.16% and risk by 9.60% points among rural older adults. Reductions were greatest among initially prefrail individuals, with 27.49% lower frailty severity and a 17.62% point reduction in subsequent frailty onset risk after URRBMI integration. In contrast, no significant benefits were observed for initially robust or frail subgroups following integration. Analyses of frailty transitions corroborated selective benefits, with URRBMI integration lowering the risks of worsening frailty among prefrail but no significant reversal of frailty status among those initially frail or prefrail. DISCUSSION China's URRBMI integration selectively ameliorated frailty progression among rural older adults with prefrail status. Targeting integrated medical insurance policies toward high-risk populations may optimize frailty prevention effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Health Commission Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujia Guo
- School of Health Policy & Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Luo J, Deng H, Wu Y, Zhang T, Cai Y, Yang Y. The weight-adjusted waist index and frailty: A cohort study from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. J Nutr Health Aging 2024; 28:100322. [PMID: 39067142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This cohort study's aim was to assess the association between the weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and frailty among middle-aged and elderly individuals in China. METHODS Seven-year complete follow-up data from 10,349 adults aged ≥45 years, initially surveyed in 2 011 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, were analyzed, including clinical demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices, frailty scores, and relevant covariates. The WWI was calculated as waist circumference divided by the square root of the body weight. Frailty was evaluated using the Frailty Index. Relationships between the WWI and frailty were evaluated via Cox proportional hazards modeling. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses assessed the effectiveness of obesity-related indicators in predicting frailty. RESULTS Over a median 84-month follow-up period, frailty occurred in 23.7% (2453/10,349) of participants. After potential confounder adjustment, the WWI positively correlated with frailty (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.14; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.20; p < 0.001). After WWI-stratification into quartiles based on frailty and covariate adjustment, regression analyses were conducted; the adjusted hazard ratios exhibited a significant upward trend (p < 0.001). The subgroup analyses revealed higher positive correlations between the WWI and frailty in males and those aged ≥65 years and lower correlations in those with a high school or higher educational level and in married or cohabiting individuals. The strong positive correlation was unaltered in the other subgroup analyses. The WWI outperformed all other obesity-related indicators as a frailty predictor. CONCLUSIONS The WWI is a dependable and innovative obesity-related predictor of frailty and could help in mitigating its development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Luo
- Geriatrics Research Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China; Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Hailian Deng
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yueying Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Tuming Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yuying Cai
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China.
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Ji D, Guo H, Qiu S, Dong L, Shen Y, Shen Z, Xu J. Screening for frailty and its association with activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, and falls among community-dwelling older adults in China. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:576. [PMID: 38961352 PMCID: PMC11223382 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05173-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Frailty is a prevalent geriatric condition that significantly impacts the health of older adults. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of frailty among older Chinese adults aged ≥ 65 years and to assess its association with adverse geriatric outcomes. METHOD This study included 20,724 older adults aged ≥ 65 years in Jiangsu Province, China, utilizing a random, stratified, multistage cluster sampling approach. Frailty was assessed using the 5-item FRAIL scale. Geriatric outcomes, such as independence in activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive impairment, and frequent fall events (occurring four or more times in the preceding year), were evaluated. Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the association between frailty and geriatric outcomes, with results presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 73.4 ± 6.4 years. The standardized prevalence of prefrailty and frailty was 35.2% and 10.3%, respectively. Individuals identified as prefrail or frail tended to live in rural areas, have lower educational levels, be widowed, have lower incomes, and engage in less physical activity. Prefrailty and frailty were associated with an increased risk of limitations in BADL (OR: 9.62, 95% CI: 7.43-12.46; and OR: 29.25, 95% CI: 22.42-38.17, respectively) and IADL (OR: 2.54, 95% CI 2.35-2.74; and OR: 5.19, 95% CI 4.66-5.78, respectively), positive cognitive impairment screening (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.16-1.31; and OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.56-1.91, respectively), and frequent falls (occurring four or more times in the preceding year) (OR: 3.38, 95% CI: 2.50-4.56; and OR: 8.37, 95% CI: 6.01-11.65). The association between frailty and both limitations in BADL and falls was notably more pronounced among the younger age groups (p for interaction < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS According to the 5-item FRAIL scale, frailty was associated with limitations in BADLs and IADLs, positive cognitive impairment screening, and recent falls among older adults living in the community. Screening for frailty in younger age groups has the potential to prevent declines in physical function and falls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakang Ji
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Haijian Guo
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Shanhu Qiu
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lirong Dong
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ya Shen
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhengkai Shen
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jinshui Xu
- Department of Integrated Services, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 210009, China
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Ye B, Li Y, Wang Y, Ji X, Wang J, Huang Y, Chen J, Bao Z. A Modified Frailty Phenotype Used for Identifying Frailty in Health Care Practice: Validation Among Chinese Older Adults. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:105016. [PMID: 38750655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.105016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The study aimed to evaluate a simplified and practical frailty detection tool derived from the Fried frailty phenotype (FFP). This tool was developed to facilitate the identification of frail individuals in constrained settings, addressing the challenges posed by uncertain cutoffs of FFP indicators in prompt frailty assessment. DESIGN A longitudinal study and a cross-sectional study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 1978 older adults aged 67.4 ± 6.16 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and 972 older adults aged 72.8 ± 6.75 years from a pilot cross-sectional study conducted in Shanghai communities. METHODS Frailty was assessed according to the FFP criterion. A Chinese modified frailty phenotype (CMFP) was developed, incorporating specific cutoffs for grip strength and an alternative test for walk speed. The internal consistency reliability, the criterion, and predictive validity of the CMFP were evaluated. RESULTS The 5-time chair stand test (5t-CST) was significantly associated with the 2.5-m walk test (r = 0.373 in the CHARLS and 0.423 in the pilot study). Each element of the CMFP showed moderate to strong correlations with the total CMFP score and showed Cronbach's alpha of 0.303 and 0.358 in both populations. The Spearman's r and kappa values between the CMFP and the FFP were 0.795 and 0.663 in the CHARLS, and 0.676 and 0.537 in the pilot study. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.936 and 0.928 in the 2 studies, respectively. In addition, frailty assessed by the CMFP significantly predicted future incidence of outcomes, including all-cause mortality, activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental ADL disability, hospitalization, and depression. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The study demonstrated the CMFP as a valid tool, particularly highlighting its excellent predictive ability on outcomes. The 5t-CST may act as a viable alternative test for assessing slowness. The CMFP can be systematically integrated into preclinical practice to identify frail individuals, especially within constrained spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ye
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Heqing Community Health Service Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Clinical Research Unit for Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueying Ji
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of General Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaofeng Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiqing Huang
- Department of General Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Clinical Research Unit for Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhijun Bao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Verschoor CP, Theou O, Ma J, Montgomery P, Mossey S, Nangia P, Saskin R, Savage DW. Age- and sex-specific associations of frailty with mortality and healthcare utilization in community-dwelling adults from ontario, Canada. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:223. [PMID: 38438981 PMCID: PMC10913570 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04842-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding how health trajectories are related to the likelihood of adverse outcomes and healthcare utilization is key to planning effective strategies for improving health span and the delivery of care to older adults. Frailty measures are useful tools for risk stratification in community-based and primary care settings, although their effectiveness in adults younger than 60 is not well described. METHODS We performed a 10-year retrospective analysis of secondary data from the Ontario Health Study, which included 161,149 adults aged ≥ 18. Outcomes including all-cause mortality and hospital admissions were obtained through linkage to ICES administrative databases with a median follow-up of 7.1-years. Frailty was characterized using a 30-item frailty index. RESULTS Frailty increased linearly with age and was higher for women at all ages. A 0.1-increase in frailty was significantly associated with mortality (HR = 1.47), the total number of outpatient (IRR = 1.35) and inpatient (IRR = 1.60) admissions over time, and length of stay (IRR = 1.12). However, with exception to length of stay, these estimates differed depending on age and sex. The hazard of death associated with frailty was greater at younger ages, particularly in women. Associations with admissions also decreased with age, similarly between sexes for outpatient visits and more so in men for inpatient. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that frailty is an important health construct for both younger and older adults. Hence targeted interventions to reduce the impact of frailty before the age of 60 would likely have important economic and social implications in both the short- and long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris P Verschoor
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
- NOSM University, Sudbury/Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.
- , 56 Walford Road, Rm. 119, P3E 2H2, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
| | - Olga Theou
- School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jinhui Ma
- Dept. of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sharolyn Mossey
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Parveen Nangia
- School of Social Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | | | - David W Savage
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada
- NOSM University, Sudbury/Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
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Fogg C, England T, Zhu S, Jones J, de Lusignan S, Fraser SDS, Roderick P, Clegg A, Harris S, Brailsford S, Barkham A, Patel HP, Walsh B. Primary and secondary care service use and costs associated with frailty in an ageing population: longitudinal analysis of an English primary care cohort of adults aged 50 and over, 2006-2017. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae010. [PMID: 38337044 PMCID: PMC10857897 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frailty becomes more prevalent and healthcare needs increase with age. Information on the impact of frailty on population level use of health services and associated costs is needed to plan for ageing populations. AIM To describe primary and secondary care service use and associated costs by electronic Frailty Index (eFI) category. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective cohort using electronic health records. Participants aged ≥50 registered in primary care practices contributing to the Oxford Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre, 2006-2017. METHODS Primary and secondary care use (totals and means) were stratified by eFI category and age group. Standardised 2017 costs were used to calculate primary, secondary and overall costs. Generalised linear models explored associations between frailty, sociodemographic characteristics. Adjusted mean costs and cost ratios were produced. RESULTS Individual mean annual use of primary and secondary care services increased with increasing frailty severity. Overall cohort care costs for were highest in mild frailty in all 12 years, followed by moderate and severe, although the proportion of the population with severe frailty can be expected to increase over time. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, compared to the fit category, individual annual costs doubled in mild frailty, tripled in moderate and quadrupled in severe. CONCLUSIONS Increasing levels of frailty are associated with an additional burden of individual service use. However, individuals with mild and moderate frailty contribute to higher overall costs. Earlier intervention may have the most potential to reduce service use and costs at population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Fogg
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tracey England
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Shihua Zhu
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jeremy Jones
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon D S Fraser
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul Roderick
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Andy Clegg
- Academic Unit for Ageing & Stroke Research, University of Leeds, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Scott Harris
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Sally Brailsford
- Southampton Business School, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Abigail Barkham
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Unit 1 Wessex Way, Colden Common, Winchester SO21 1WP, UK
| | - Harnish P Patel
- University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, Southampton Centre for Biomedical Research, Southampton, UK
| | - Bronagh Walsh
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Dent E, Hanlon P, Sim M, Jylhävä J, Liu Z, Vetrano DL, Stolz E, Pérez-Zepeda MU, Crabtree DR, Nicholson C, Job J, Ambagtsheer RC, Ward PR, Shi SM, Huynh Q, Hoogendijk EO. Recent developments in frailty identification, management, risk factors and prevention: A narrative review of leading journals in geriatrics and gerontology. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102082. [PMID: 37797723 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Frailty is an age-related clinical condition characterised by an increased susceptibility to stressors and an elevated risk of adverse outcomes such as mortality. In the light of global population ageing, the prevalence of frailty is expected to soar in coming decades. This narrative review provides critical insights into recent developments and emerging practices in frailty research regarding identification, management, risk factors, and prevention. We searched journals in the top two quartiles of geriatrics and gerontology (from Clarivate Journal Citation Reports) for articles published between 01 January 2018 and 20 December 2022. Several recent developments were identified, including new biomarkers and biomarker panels for frailty screening and diagnosis, using artificial intelligence to identify frailty, and investigating the altered response to medications by older adults with frailty. Other areas with novel developments included exercise (including technology-based exercise), multidimensional interventions, person-centred and integrated care, assistive technologies, analysis of frailty transitions, risk-factors, clinical guidelines, COVID-19, and potential future treatments. This review identified a strong need for the implementation and evaluation of cost-effective, community-based interventions to manage and prevent frailty. Our findings highlight the need to better identify and support older adults with frailty and involve those with frailty in shared decision-making regarding their care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Dent
- Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Peter Hanlon
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Marc Sim
- Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Health and Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Juulia Jylhävä
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Zuyun Liu
- Second Affiliated Hospital and School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Davide L Vetrano
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erwin Stolz
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Mario Ulises Pérez-Zepeda
- Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Dirección de Investigación, ciudad de México, Mexico; Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud (CICSA), FCS, Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte, Huixquilucan Edo. de México
| | | | - Caroline Nicholson
- Centre for Health System Reform & Integration, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jenny Job
- Centre for Health System Reform & Integration, Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rachel C Ambagtsheer
- Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Paul R Ward
- Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sandra M Shi
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging, Hebrew Senior Life, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Quan Huynh
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emiel O Hoogendijk
- Department of Epidemiology & Data Science and Department of General Practice, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Ageing & Later Life Research Program, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Yan R, Li L, Duan X, Zhao J. Association of frailty with health service use among older Chinese adults: analysis of population-based panel data. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1011588. [PMID: 37575114 PMCID: PMC10420091 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1011588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Frailty is a common syndrome characterized by rapid growth in the aging population that has an impact on healthcare systems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of frailty on health service use and whether this effect varies with chronic diseases and socioeconomic status among older individuals in China. Methods A balanced panel data analysis was conducted on 3,306 older individuals who completed follow-ups for the three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2011, 2013, and 2015. The Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP) Scale was used to assess frailty status. Negative binomial regression was used to test the associations between frailty status, outpatient visits in the past 4 weeks, and annual inpatient hospital days. Results Compared with robust individuals, individuals with pre-frail or frail status were likely to report a higher number of outpatient visits [pre-frail: incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.16-1.41; frail: IRR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.23-1.71], and inpatient hospital days (pre-frail: IRR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.24-1.58; frail: IRR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.81-2.60) after controlling for all covariates. All five frailty components (weight loss, exhaustion, low physical activity, slowness, and weakness) were associated with a higher number of inpatient hospital days, and two components (weight loss and exhaustion) were associated with a higher number of outpatient visits. The effect of frailty on inpatient hospital stays persisted in different socioeconomic groups, across all health insurance programmes and physical comorbidities. Conclusion Frailty is associated with greater health service use among older individuals. Effective screening, prevention, intervention, and management of frailty may be important to reduce health service use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yan
- Internet Medical and System Applications of National Engineering Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lifeng Li
- Internet Medical and System Applications of National Engineering Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoran Duan
- Internet Medical and System Applications of National Engineering Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Internet Medical and System Applications of National Engineering Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Kim MJ, Lee S, Cheong HK, Jang SY, Kim HS, Oh IH. Healthcare Utilization and Costs According to Frailty Transitions After Two Years: A Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. J Korean Med Sci 2023; 38:e191. [PMID: 37337810 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Korea's aging population has raised several challenges, especially concerning healthcare costs. Consequently, this study evaluated the association of frailty transitions with healthcare utilization and costs for older adults aged 70 to 84. METHODS This study linked the frailty status data of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study to the National Health Insurance Database. We included 2,291 participants who had frailty measured by Fried Frailty phenotype at baseline in 2016-2017 and follow-up in 2018-2019. We conducted a multivariate regression analysis to determine the association between their healthcare utilization and costs by frailty transition groups. RESULTS After 2 years, changes from "pre-frail" to "frail" (Group 6) and "frail" to "pre-frail" (Group 8) were significantly associated with increased inpatient days (P < 0.001), inpatient frequency (P < 0.001), inpatient cost (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively), and total healthcare cost (P < 0.001) than "robust" to "robust" (Group 1) older adults. A transition to frailty from "pre-frail" to "frail" (Group 6) resulted in a $2,339 total healthcare cost increase, and from "frail" to "pre-frail" (Group 8), a $1,605, compared to "robust" to "robust" older adults. CONCLUSION Frailty among community-dwelling older adults is economically relevant. Therefore, it is crucial to study the burden of medical expenses and countermeasures for older adults to not only provide appropriate medical services but also to prevent the decline in their living standards due to medical expenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Jung Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seoyoon Lee
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Social Welfare Policy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeon-Kyoung Cheong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Yeon Jang
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
| | - Hee-Sun Kim
- Department of Health Policy Research, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, Korea.
| | - In-Hwan Oh
- Department of Medicine (AgeTech-Service Convergence Major), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
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Li J, Wu D, Li H, Chen J. Unmet healthcare needs predict frailty onset in the middle-aged and older population in China: A prospective cohort analysis. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1064846. [PMID: 36815170 PMCID: PMC9939901 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1064846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Older populations have a relatively high prevalence of unmet healthcare needs, which can result in poor health status. Moreover, in the coming century, frailty is expected to become one of the most serious global public health challenges. However, there is a lack of clear evidence proving an association between unmet healthcare needs and frailty. This study aimed to assess whether unmet healthcare needs predict the onset of frailty in China. Methods The association between frailty and unmet healthcare needs was explored by analyzing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) using random-effects logistic regression and Cox regression with time-varying exposure. Results At baseline, 7,719 respondents were included in the analysis. Random-effects logistic regression shows that unmet outpatient healthcare needs were associated with increased risk of both contemporaneous (adjusted OR [aOR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.35) and lagged (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.45) frailty, as were unmet inpatient needs (contemporaneous: aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.00-1.64; lagged: aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.17-2.06). For respondents not classified as frail at baseline (n = 5,392), Cox regression with time-varying exposure shows significant associations of both unmet outpatient needs (adjusted HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44) and unmet inpatient needs (adjusted HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11-1.99) with increased risk of developing frailty. Conclusions Reducing unmet healthcare needs would be a valuable intervention to decrease frailty risk and promote healthy aging in middle-aged and older populations. It is urgent and essential that the equity and accessibility of the medical insurance and health delivery systems be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Tongji Medical College, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Di Wu
- Tongji Medical College, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haomiao Li
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Haomiao Li ✉
| | - Jiangyun Chen
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Fan L, Xue H, Wang Q, Yan Y, Du W. Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Risk of Emergency Department Revisits in Chinese Older Patients. Healthc Policy 2022; 15:2283-2295. [PMID: 36510569 PMCID: PMC9738955 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s391731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The identification of older patients at risk of repeated emergency department (ED) visits is crucial for managing preventable adverse outcomes. This study aims to identify risk factors associated with ED revisits and to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting risk of geriatric ED revisits. Methods This was a cohort study comprising 553 older patients, who attended the two tertiary hospitals EDs in China from August 2018 to February 2019 and were prospectively followed for any unplanned revisit within 1 year after discharge. Patients were randomly assigned to a training or validation set at a ratio of 2:1. Stepwise selection procedure was applied to select factors associated with ED revisits for inclusion in a multivariable logistic model from which a nomogram was elaborated. Discrimination, calibration and clinical utility of the nomogram were assessed using C-statistic, calibration plot, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results The final nomogram included four predictors for ED revisits: age, BMI, frailty and polypharmacy. Older patients having revisits were more likely to be frail (OR = 1.17, p = 0.031), have polypharmacy (OR = 1.69, p = 0.049) or BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (OR = 2.45, p = 0.025), and were less likely to be older than 90 years (OR = 0.21, p = 0.002). The nomogram demonstrated acceptable discrimination ability in the training (C-index = 0.661) and validation sets (C-index = 0.651), satisfactory calibration (p > 0.05), and good clinical applicability. Conclusion A nomogram incorporating four obtainable variables was constructed to individualize ED readmission risk in older patients. These patients may benefit from early triage and better-targeted care if considering the nomogram as a clinical decision aid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Fan
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China,School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Xue
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhan Yan
- General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China,Yuhan Yan, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China, Email
| | - Wei Du
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Wei Du, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China, Email
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Fan L, Hou XY, Liu Y, Chen S, Wang Q, Du W. Catastrophic Health Expenditure Associated With Frailty in Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Analysis. Front Public Health 2021; 9:718910. [PMID: 34568260 PMCID: PMC8459925 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.718910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) represents a key indicator for excessive financial burden due to out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare costs, which could push the household into poverty and is highly pronounced in households with members at an advanced age. Previous studies have been devoted to understanding the determinants for CHE, yet little evidence exists on its association with frailty, an important geriatric syndrome attracting growing recognition. We thus aim to examine the relationship between frailty and CHE and to explore whether this effect is moderated by socioeconomic-related factors. Methods: A total of 3,277 older adults were drawn from two waves (2011 and 2013) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). CHE was defined when OOP healthcare expenditure exceeded a specific proportion of the capacity of the household to pay. Frailty was measured following the Fried Phenotype (FP) scale. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were employed to assess the longitudinal relationship between frailty and CHE, and stratification analyses were conducted to explore the moderation effect. Results: The incidence of CHE among Chinese community-dwelling older adults was 21.76% in 2011 and increased to 26.46% in 2013. Compared with non-frail individuals, prefrail or frail adults were associated with higher odds for CHE after controlling for age, gender, residence, education, marriage, income, health insurance, smoking, drinking, and comorbidity (prefrail: odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.14-1.52; frail: OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.13-2.47). Three frailty components including weakness, exhaustion, and shrinking contributed to a significantly increased likelihood of CHE (all p < 0.05), while the other two components including slowness and inactivity showed a non-significant effect (all p > 0.05). Similar effects from frailty on CHE were observed across socioeconomic-related subgroups differentiated by gender, residence, education, household income, and social health insurance. Conclusions: Frailty is a significant predictor for CHE in China. Developing and implementing cost-effective strategies for the prevention and management of frailty is imperative to protect households from financial catastrophe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Fan
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Hou
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia
| | - Yingyan Liu
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sunan Chen
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Du
- School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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Liau SJ, Lalic S, Visvanathan R, Dowd LA, Bell JS. The FRAIL-NH Scale: Systematic Review of the Use, Validity and Adaptations for Frailty Screening in Nursing Homes. J Nutr Health Aging 2021; 25:1205-1216. [PMID: 34866147 PMCID: PMC8549594 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-021-1694-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate frailty prevalence, cross-sectional associations, predictive validity, concurrent validity, and cross-cultural adaptations of the FRAIL-NH scale. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Frail residents living in nursing homes. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2015 to June 2021 for primary studies that used the FRAIL-NH scale, irrespective of study designs and publication language. RESULTS Overall, 40 studies conducted across 20 countries utilized the FRAIL-NH scale; majority in Australia (n=14), followed by China (n=6), United States (n=3), and Spain (n=3). The scale has been translated and back-translated into Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Various cut-offs have been used, with ≥2 and ≥6 being the most common cut-offs for frail and most frail, respectively. When defined using these cut-offs, frailty prevalence varied from 15.1-79.5% (frail) to 28.5-75.0% (most frail). FRAIL-NH predicted falls (n=2), hospitalization or length of stay (n=4), functional or cognitive decline (n=4), and mortality (n=9) over a median follow-up of 12 months. FRAIL-NH has been compared to 16 other scales, and was correlated with Fried's phenotype (FP), Frailty Index (FI), and FI-Lab. Four studies reported fair-to-moderate agreements between FRAIL-NH and FI, FP, and the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. Ten studies assessed the sensitivity and specificity of different FRAIL-NH cut-offs, with ≥8 having the highest sensitivity (94.1%) and specificity (82.8%) for classifying residents as frail based on FI, while two studies reported an optimal cut-off of ≥2 based on FI and FP, respectively. CONCLUSION In seven years, the FRAIL-NH scale has been applied in 20 countries and adapted into three languages. Despite being applied with a range of cut-offs, FRAIL-NH was associated with higher care needs and demonstrated good agreement with other well-established but more complex scales. FRAIL-NH was predictive of adverse outcomes across different settings, highlighting its value in guiding care for frail residents in nursing homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Liau
- Shin J. Liau, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 407 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. E-mail:
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