Comparison of frailty associated factors between older adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and community dwellers. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozeki, Sae; Takeuchi, Kenji; Yasuoka, Mikako; Kamiji, Koto; Kojima, Toshihisa; Waguri-Nagaya, Yuko; Ojima, Toshiyuki; Kondo, Katsunori; Wakai, Kenji; Kojima, Masayo
• Is Part Of: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics. Volume 96(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Autoimmune disease -- Body mass index -- Kihon checklist -- Risk factors -- Social participation; Aging -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.26
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104455
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-4943

Abstract

Highlights: Frailty predictors assessed in rheumatoid arthritis patients and community dwellers. BMI outside the healthy range associated with frailty in both study samples. Lack of social participation associated with frailty in both study samples. Appropriate body weight and social activities are important for preventing frailty. Abstract: Purpose: To determine whether frailty associated factors differ between community dwellers and older adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We used the cross-sectional data for patients with RA from the RA epidemiological quality-of-life study (n = 210, mean age 71.8 ± 3.7 years) and community dwellers from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (n = 53, 255, mean age 71.7 ± 4.0 years). Frailty status was assessed using the Kihon Checklist (KCL), and the primary outcome was frailty (KCL score ≥8 points). Information on predictor variables, including age, sex, marital status, educational level, body mass index (BMI), drinking and smoking status and social participation were obtained from a standardized questionnaire. We employed Poisson regression to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR) of frailty according to its predictors. Results: We found frailty in 37.6% of the patients with RA and 15.7% of the community dwellers. In the multivariate models, BMI and social participation were independently associated with frailty in patients with RA (BMI <18.5: PR, 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–2.41. BMI ≥25.0: PR, 1.81; 95% CI 1.20–2.71. Active social participation: PR, 0.61; 95% CI 0.42–0.87) and community dwellers (BMI <18.5: PR, 1.77; 95% CI 1.67–1.88. BMI ≥25.0: PR, 1.27; 95% CI 1.22–1.33. Active social participation: PR, 0.46; 95% CI 0.44–0.48). All other predictors were significantly associated with frailty in the community dwellers. Conclusion: Maintaining appropriate body weight and participating in social activities are important for preventing frailty in patients with RA as well as community dwellers.