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BACKGROUND: frailty, a multi-dimensional geriatric syndrome, confers a high risk for falls, disability, hospitalisation and mortality. The prevalence and correlates of frailty in the UK are unknown. METHODS: frailty, defined by Fried, was examined among community-dwelling young-old (64-74 years) men (n = 320) and women (n = 318) who participated in the Hertfordshire Cohort Study, UK. RESULTS: the prevalence of frailty was 8.5% among women and 4.1% among men (P = 0.02). Among men, older age (P = 0.009), younger age of leaving education (P = 0.05), not owning/mortgaging one's home (odds ratio [OR] for frailty 3.45 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.01-11.81], P = 0.05, in comparison with owner/mortgage occupiers) and reduced car availability (OR for frailty 3.57 per unit decrease in number of cars available [95% CI 1.32, 10.0], P = 0.01) were associated with increased odds of frailty. Among women, not owning/mortgaging one's home (P = 0.02) was associated with frailty. With the exception of car availability among men (P = 0.03), all associations were non-significant (P > 0.05) after adjustment for co-morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: frailty is not uncommon even among community-dwelling young-old men and women in the UK. There are social inequalities in frailty which appear to be mediated by co-morbidity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/ageing/afp204

Type

Journal article

Journal

Age ageing

Publication Date

03/2010

Volume

39

Pages

197 - 203

Keywords

Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Cohort Studies, England, Fatigue, Female, Frail Elderly, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Health Status Indicators, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Strength Dynamometer, Muscle Weakness, Prevalence, Quality of Life, Residence Characteristics, Sex Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires