The Association of Vitamin D Levels and the Frailty Phenotype Among Non-geriatric Dialysis Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Associations of fat-soluble micronutrients and redox biomarkers with frailty status in the FRAILOMIC initiative

BACKGROUND

A poor fat-soluble micronutrient (FMN) and a high oxidative stress status are associated with frailty. Our aim was to determine the cross-sectional association of FMNs and oxidative stress biomarkers [protein carbonyls (PrCarb) and 3-nitrotyrosine] with the frailty status in participants older than 65 years.

METHODS

Plasma levels of vitamins A (retinol), D3 , E (α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol) and carotenoids (α-carotene and β-carotene, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin), PrCarb, and 3-nitrotyrosine were measured in 1450 individuals of the FRAILOMIC initiative. Participants were classified into robust, pre-frail, and frail using Fried's frailty criteria. Associations between biomarkers and frailty status were assessed by general linear and logistic regression models, both adjusted for cohort, season of blood sampling, gender, age, height, weight, and smoking.

RESULTS

Robust participants had significantly higher vitamin D3 and lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations than pre-frail and frail subjects; had significantly higher γ-tocopherol, α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin concentrations than frail subjects, and had significantly lower PrCarb concentrations than frail participants in multivariate linear models. Frail subjects were more likely to be in the lowest than in the highest tertile for vitamin D3 (adjusted odds ratio: 2.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.42-3.26), α-tocopherol (2.12; 1.39-3.24), α-carotene (1.69; 1.00-2.88), β-carotene (1.84; 1.13-2.99), lycopene (1.94; 1.24-3.05), lutein/zeaxanthin (3.60; 2.34-5.53), and β-cryptoxanthin (3.02; 1.95-4.69) and were more likely to be in the highest than in the lowest tertile for PrCarb (2.86; 1.82-4.49) than robust subjects in multivariate regression models.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that both low FMN and high PrCarb concentrations are associated with pre-frailty and frailty.

Contributors, risk associates, and complications of frailty in patients with chronic kidney disease: a scoping review

Frailty exhibits diverse influences on health-related outcomes and represents a surrogate of increased susceptibility to harmful injuries. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at a higher risk of accelerated biologic aging, and, in this population, the concept of frailty emerges as an instrumental measurement of physiologic reserves. However, a comprehensive description of known independent contributors to, and risk associates of, frailty in these patients remain unavailable. In the present review, original studies up to 28 February 2019 that assessed frailty in patients with all stages of CKD were retrieved and reviewed, with results extracted and summarized. By pooling 62 original investigations, 58.1% and 49.1% used cohort and cross-sectional designs, respectively. Dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients (n = 39; 62.9%) were the most commonly examined population, followed by those with nondialysis CKD (n = 12; 19.4%) and those receiving renal transplantation (n = 11; 17.7%). Contributors to frailty in CKD patients included sociodemographic factors, smoking, CKD severity, organ-specific comorbidities, depression, hypoalbuminemia, and low testosterone levels. Conversely, the development of frailty was potentially associated with the emergence of cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, and cerebral complications; mental distress; and a higher risk of subsequent functional and quality-of-life impairment. Moreover, frailty in CKD patients increased healthcare utilization and consistently elevated mortality among affected ones. Based on the multitude of contributors to frailty and its diverse health influences, a multifaceted approach to manage CKD patients with frailty is needed, and its potential influences on outcomes besides mortality need to be considered.

Attitudes of hemodialysis patients, medical and nursing staff towards patients' physical activity

PURPOSE

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) seem to have a negative attitude towards physical activity, which is mainly favored by the lack of counseling provided by the medical and nursing staff. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of both ESRD patients and medical staff on the participation and promotion of physical activity and identify the obstacles that discourage patients' involvement in intervention programs.

STUDY DESIGN

Subjective assessment questionnaires and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administrated to hemodialysis patients and medical staff, to investigate the association between patient's barriers to physical activity, the total intensity level of physical activity, and attitudes of both ESRD patients and medical staff on the participation and promotion of physical activity.

RESULTS

A total of 103 ESRD patients (61 men, 59.2%), 20 nephrologists (12 men, 60.0%), and 72 nurses (61 women, 84.7%) participated in the study. Most commonly reported patient's barriers were fatigue on dialysis (97.4%) and non-dialysis days (55.1%). Healthcare staff showed positive attitude towards renal rehabilitation exercise programs. However, most of physicians (85.0%) and nurses (83.3%) did not have previous experience with interventional exercise rehabilitation programs. Binary logistic regression revealed significant association between patients' inactivity, demographic data, and barriers towards physical activity, such as fatigue and pain in dialysis and non-dialysis days (p < 0.05), family's and physician's concern (p < 0.05), too many medical problems (p < 0.05), the fear of getting hurt (p = 0.01), and unwillingness for exercise (p < 0.05). Interestingly, healthcare staff's negative attitudes toward patient's physical activity seem to be strongly associated with patient's inactivity status.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare staff negative attitudes and multiple related barriers especially fatigue on dialysis and non-dialysis days, towards ESRD patient's physical activity, suppress desire for exercise and active patients' status, leading them to abstain from it.

Applicability of laboratory deficit-based frailty index in predominantly older patients with end-stage renal disease under chronic dialysis: A pilot test of its correlation with survival and self-reported instruments

AIM

Laboratory deficit-based frailty index (LFI) exhibited outcome-prediction ability in the elderly, but not in those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We hypothesized that LFI results might have outcome correlation and correlate closely with other instruments in ESRD patients.

METHODS

We prospectively enroled ESRD patients between 2014 and 2015 and administered self-report frailty instruments (Strawbridge questionnaire, Edmonton frail scale (EFS), Groningen frailty indicator (GFI), Tilburg frailty indicator, G8 questionnaire and FRAIL scale), and Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) scale, with two types of LFI calculated. They were followed up until June 30, 2017. Correlations between the results of six instruments, CHS scale, and those of LFI were identified, followed by Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and logistic regression analyses to compare those with high and low LFI.

RESULTS

The frailty prevalence was 33.3% (CHS), 78.8% Strawbridge questionnaire, 45.5% (EFS), 57.6% (GFI), 27.3% (Tilburg frailty indicator), 84.8% (G8) and 18.2% (FRAIL) among ESRD participants. LFI-1 results were significantly correlated with those of LFI-2 (P < 0.01), EFS (P = 0.04) and GFI (P < 0.01), while LFI-2 results were not. Those with CHS or GFI-identified frailty had significantly lower 1,25-(OH)₂ -D levels than those without. After 32.3 ± 5.4 months, patients with high LFI-1 scores, but not LFI-2, had a significantly higher mortality than those with lower scores. GFI and EFS scores were also independently associated with LFI-1, while CHS scores exhibited borderline association only.

CONCLUSION

Among a group of predominantly older ESRD patients, LFI differentiates patients with good and poor outcomes, supporting its applicability in these patients.