Prevalence of Frailty and its Association with Cognitive Status and Functional Fitness among Ambulating Older Adults Residing in Institutions within West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Resshaya Roobini Murukesu, Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh, Ponnusamy Subramaniam, Xee Vern Tan, Ibtisam Arfah Mohamd Izhar, Pavapriya Ponvel and Hanif Farhan Mohd Rasdi
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Resshaya Roobini Murukesu: Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh: Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Ponnusamy Subramaniam: Health Psychology Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Xee Vern Tan: Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Ibtisam Arfah Mohamd Izhar: Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Pavapriya Ponvel: Physiotherapy Programme & Centre for Healthy Ageing and Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Hanif Farhan Mohd Rasdi: Occupational Therapy Programme & Centre for Rehabilitation & Special Needs, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Aim: There is limited information about the association between frailty, cognitive status and functional fitness in older adults living in institutions. We aimed to determine the prevalence of frailty and its association with cognitive status and functional fitness among pre-frail and frail Malaysian older adults residing in institutions on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: This study included 302 ambulating Malaysian institutionalised older adults. Frailty was identified using Fried’s frailty criteria. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination. Functional fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness test. The association between frailty groups, cognitive status and functional fitness was analysed using binary logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of frailty, prefrailty and robustness in the older adults was 56.6%, 40.7% and 2.9%, respectively. Frailty was found to be associated with hypertension (OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.11–4.16, p = 0.024), lower cognitive status (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination) (OR 0.98, 95% C.I: 0.96–0.99, p = 0.038), and lower dynamic balance and mobility (Timed Up and Go test) (OR 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01–1.16, p = 0.024). Conclusion: Frailty is highly prevalent among Malaysian institutionalised older adults. Hypertension, cognitive impairment and lower dynamic balance and mobility were found to be risk factors of frailty. Screening of frailty and its associated factors should be prioritized among institutionalised older adults in view of early prevention and rehabilitation.

Keywords: aging; frailty; institutionalisation; cognition; functional fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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