Predictors of frailty and vitality in older adults aged 75 years and over

A research project aimed to identify predictors of frailty as well as vitality among older adults aged 75 years and over.
The study was based on longitudinal data from 569 adults aged ≥75 years who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Predictors from the sociodemographic, social, psychological, lifestyle, and physical domains of functioning were measured at T1 (2008-2009). The frailty index (FI) was used to identify frail (FI ≥ 0.25) and vital (FI ≤ 0.15) respondents at follow-up, 3 years later (T2: 2011-2012).
The prevalence of frailty in the sample at follow-up was 49.4% and the prevalence of vitality was 18.3%. Predictors of frailty and vitality partly overlapped and included age, depressive symptoms, number of chronic diseases, and self-rated health. The researchers also found predictors that did not overlap. Male sex, moderate alcohol use, more emotional support received, and no hearing problems, were predictors of vitality. Lower cognitive functioning, polypharmacy, and pain were predictors of frailty. The final model for vitality explained 42% of the variance and the final model for frailty explained 48%. Both models had a good discriminative value (area under ROC-curve [AUC] vitality: 0.88; AUC frailty: 0.85).
The researchers comment that among older adults aged 75 years and over, predictors of frailty only partially overlap with predictors of vitality. The readily accessible predictors in their models may help to identify older adults who are likely to be vital, or who are at risk of frailty.
Source: de Breij S, van Hout H, P, J, de Bruin S, R, Schuster N, A, Deeg D, J, H, Huisman M, Hoogendijk E, O: Predictors of Frailty and Vitality in Older Adults Aged 75 years and Over: Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Gerontology 2021.