Prevalence and association of frailty with SARS-CoV-2 infection in older adults in Southern Switzerland-Findings from the Corona Immunitas Ticino Study.
BMC Geriatr
; 23(1): 18, 2023 01 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2196067
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Frailty is an age-associated state of increased vulnerability to stressors that strongly predicts poor health outcomes. Epidemiological evidence on frailty is limited during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether frailty is associated with the risk of infection is unknown.OBJECTIVES:
We derived a robust Frailty Index (FI) to measure the prevalence of frailty and its risk factors in community-dwelling older adults in Southern Switzerland (Ticino), and we explored the association between frailty and serologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.METHODS:
In September 2020, we recruited a random sample of community-dwelling older adults (65 +) in the Corona Immunitas Ticino prospective cohort study (CIT) and assessed a variety of lifestyle and health characteristics. We selected 30 health-related variables, computed the Rockwood FI, and applied standard thresholds for robust (FI < 0.1), pre-frail (0.1 ≤ FI < 0.21), and frail (FI ≥ 0.21).RESULTS:
Complete data for the FI was available for 660 older adults. The FI score ranged between zero (no frailty) and 0.59. The prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty were 10.3% and 48.2% respectively. The log-transformed FI score increased by age similarly in males and females, on average by 2.8% (p < 0.001) per one-year increase in age. Out of 481 participants with a valid serological test, 11.2% were seropositive to either anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA or IgG. The frailty status and seropositivity were not statistically associated (p = 0.236).CONCLUSION:
Advanced age increases the risk of frailty. The risk of COVID-19 infection in older adults may not differ by frailty status.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Frailty
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Geriatr
Journal subject:
Geriatrics
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12877-023-03730-7
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