Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Brief Reports

Prevalence of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Systematic Review

Corresponding Author

Rose M. Collard MSc

Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Pro Persona, Nijmegen Mental Health Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Address correspondence to Rose M. Collard, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, 966, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author

Han Boter PhD,

Han Boter PhD

Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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Robert A. Schoevers MD, PhD,

Robert A. Schoevers MD, PhD

University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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Richard C. Oude Voshaar MD, PhD,

Richard C. Oude Voshaar MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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Rose M. Collard MSc,

Corresponding Author

Rose M. Collard MSc

Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Pro Persona, Nijmegen Mental Health Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Han Boter PhD,

Han Boter PhD

Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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Robert A. Schoevers MD, PhD,

Robert A. Schoevers MD, PhD

University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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Richard C. Oude Voshaar MD, PhD,

Richard C. Oude Voshaar MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

University Center of Psychiatry & Interdisciplinary Center of Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

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First published: 06 August 2012

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04054.x

Citations: 2,047

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Abstract

Objectives

To systematically compare and pool the prevalence of frailty, including prefrailty, reported in community-dwelling older people overall and according to sex, age, and definition of frailty used.

Design

Systematic review of the literature using the key words elderly, aged, frailty, prevalence, and epidemiology.

Setting

Cross-sectional data from community-based cohorts.

Participants

Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

Measurements

In the studies that were found, frailty and prefrailty were measured according to physical phenotype and broad phenotype, the first defining frailty as a purely physical condition and the second also including psychosocial aspects.

Results

Reported prevalence in the community varies enormously (range 4.0–59.1%). The overall weighted prevalence of frailty was 10.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 10.5–10.9; 21 studies; 61,500 participants). The weighted prevalence was 9.9% for physical frailty (95% CI = 9.6–10.2; 15 studies; 44,894 participants) and 13.6% for the broad phenotype of frailty (95% CI = 13.2–14.0; 8 studies; 24,072 participants) (chi-square (χ²) = 217.7, degrees of freedom (df)=1, P < .001). Prevalence increased with age (χ² = 6067, df = 1, P < .001) and was higher in women (9.6%, 95% CI = 9.2–10.0%) than in men (5.2%, 95% CI = 4.9–5.5%; χ² = 298.9 df = 1, P < .001).

Conclusion

Frailty is common in later life, but different operationalization of frailty status results in widely differing prevalence between studies. Improving the comparability of epidemiological and clinical studies constitutes an important step forward.

Supporting Information

References

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Citing Literature

Volume60, Issue8

August 2012

Pages 1487-1492

Prevalence of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Results

Conclusion

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Information

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Prevalence of Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Measurements

Results

Conclusion

Supporting Information

References

Citing Literature

References

Related

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