Cognitive Frailty: Frequency and Risk of Adverse Events in Older Individuals

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the associated cognitive frailty with falls and clinical admissions in older patients.

Methods: Case-control, analytical, individual-based, observational study based on longitudinal retrospective design. The sample comprised patients older than 65 years old, treated at the outpatient clinic of a geriatric service, who were followed up in the previous period of six months. Cognitive frailty (CF) was used as a dependent variable in the present study. Cognitive impairment was diagnosed based on Clinical Dementia Rating. Frailty was categorized based on the clinical frailty scale. The Chi-square test and Poisson regression model were used to evaluate the association between CF and outcomes.

Results: One hundred and forty-six patients, at a mean age of 81±6 years, were assessed; 69.2% of them were women. Patients with CF presented a higher risk of falls than the control population (p=0.004). However, after the adjusted analysis application, this condition was no longer associated with falls (p=0.32) and hospitalizations (p=0.59).

Conclusion: Patients with CF presented a higher risk of falls than the control population; however, this condition was not associated with hospitalization. These findings confirm the importance of strategies focused on preventing accidents due to falls, which could increase patients’ functional dependence on others.