Association between Phthalate Exposure and Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Repeated Panel Data Study

Hongsoo Kim, Seyune Lee, Young-Il Jung and Yun-Chul Hong
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Hongsoo Kim: Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
Seyune Lee: Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
Young-Il Jung: Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, 86 Dongsung-Dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03087, Korea
Yun-Chul Hong: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehakno, Jongrogu, Seoul 03080, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Only a few studies have examined the impacts of environmental exposure on frailty. This study investigated the association between phthalates and frailty among community-dwelling older adults. The Korean Elderly Environmental Panel II (KEEP II) study is a repeated panel data study of 800 community-dwelling older adults in South Korea. Frailty was measured with five items defined by Fried and colleagues. Environmental pollutants in the form of two types of metabolites for Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHPs)—Mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and Mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP)—were obtained from urine specimens. Analyses were performed using repeated linear mixed models. The concentration levels of both MEOHP and MEHHP in urine were significantly higher in the pre-frail or frail group than its counterparts. While adjusting for covariates, MEOHP level was positively associated with the likelihood of being pre-frail or frail in both males and females; the concentration level of MEHHP also had a positive impact on the likelihood of being pre-frail or frail in females. The DEHP metabolite concentrations were significantly lower among adults with daily fruit consumption in both males and females. DEHPs, measured by metabolite concentrations, may increase the risk of frailty among older men and women; further studies are necessary. The preventive effects of nutrition on DEHP risk should also be further investigated.

Keywords: healthy aging; environmental pollutants; nutrition; community; Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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