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Abstract
Background: For effective prevention and intervention, and reduction of dependency, it is essential to determine the presence of frailty in the community.
Objectives: To describe the prevalence of frailty among elderly persons living independently, in two primary healthcare areas in Spain; to identify factors correlated with its presence.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2015 and July 2016 among non-institutionalized individuals aged ≥70 years living in the primary healthcare areas of Gipuzkoa and Costa del Sol (Spain). The main outcome variable was the prevalence of frailty (determined by modified Fried criteria). The independent study variables were sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric data and health-related life habits.
Results: The study population consisted of 855 individuals (53% women). The overall prevalence of frailty was 26.2% (Gipuzkoa 14.2%, Costa del Sol 38.0%). Using multiple logistic regression, the following factors were associated with frailty: female sex (OR: 1.98; 95%CI: 1.37–2.86); cumulative illness rating scale (OR: 1.05; 95%CI: 1.00–1.10); self-perceived health status (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.95–0.97); self-perceived unhealthy lifestyle (OR: 3.37; 95%CI: 2.05–8.87); dissatisfaction with the domestic environment (OR: 2.11; 95%CI: 1.18–3.76); and cognitive impairment (OR: 4.10; 95%CI: 2.05–8.19). In the multivariable model, ‘geographical area’ differences persisted, with an OR of 3.51 (95%CI: 2.29–5.36) for the Costa del Sol area, using Gipuzkoa as reference.
Conclusion: In this population of community-dwelling persons aged 70 years and over, the prevalence of frailty was 26%. Factors correlated with frailty were female sex, comorbidity, poorer self-perceived lifestyle and health status, and dissatisfaction with the domestic environment.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank all the health centre patients who gave us their time and patience to complete the questionnaires involved in this study. The authors also thank the directors of each of the participating health centres for allowing us the use of their facilities to conduct this study: in Gipuzcoa – Centro de Salud Errenteria-Beraun, Centro de Salud Hondarribia and Centro Salud Ambulatorio Irún Centro; and in Costa del Sol – La Lobilla (Estepona), UGC Las Albarizas (Marbella), UGC Los Boliches (Fuengirola) and UGC San Miguel (Torremolinos).
Authors’ contributions
IV and FRR conceived the study, designed the study protocol, sought funding and ethical approval and wrote the manuscript; AD, MPR and YMB participated in data collection; FRR, MM and KV analysed and interpreted the data; FRR drafted the report; all authors critically reviewed the report. All authors have seen and approved the final, submitted version of this manuscript.
GIFEA group: Euskadi: Itziar Vergara, Mónica Machón, Kalliopi Vrotsou, Ana Isabel Díez, Maider Mateo-Abad, Bakarne Aguirre, Izaskun Moreda, Olatz Miranda, Leonor Rico, Irati Rodriguez, Antonio Bueno, Jazmina Nuñez, Manel Ferrán, Arantza Calvo, Carolina Güell.
Andalusia: Francisco Rivas-Ruiz, Raúl Quirós López, Teresa Téllez Santana, María Padilla-Ruiz (Agencia Sanitaria Costa del Sol); Eugenio Contreras-Fernández, Yolanda de Mesa Berenguer, Alonso Montiel Luque, María A Nava Del Val, María C Saucedo-Figueredo (Distrito de Atención Primaria Costa del Sol); María J Vázquez Blanco (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Málaga).
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.