Impacts of frailty on the negative health outcomes of elderly Brazilians

Abstract

Objective: to verify the association between frailty and the occurrence of falls, hospitalization and death among Brazilian elderly persons. Methods: a representative sample of elderly persons from the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, who had been evaluated with regard to frailty, socio-demographic conditions and health in 2009, were reevaluated in terms of negative health outcomes between 2014 and 2015 (n=304). Results: The results revealed a greater incidence of falls, hospitalization, and death among frail elderly persons. The frail group also had an increased risk (1.5, crude estimate) of death during the follow-up period than the robust individuals. The pre-frail elderly had a 55% (crude) and 58% (adjusted) greater risk of falls, and an 89% (crude) greater risk of death than robust individuals. Conclusion: frailty, as well as pre-frailty, can increase the risk of adverse events in the health of the elderly.