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Table 3 Health and functional status characteristics of seniors, by frailty status

From: Understanding functional and social risk characteristics of frail older adults: a cross-sectional survey study

 

All

Frailty Status

 

(N = 4551)

Wtd.%

Fraila

(N = 647)

Wtd. %

Non-Frail

(N = 3904)

Wtd. %

p-value

Frail vs. Non-Frail

Self-reported overall rating of health

 Very good/excellent

45.3

7.2

51.7

p < .0001

 Good

39.1

37.9

39.3

 

 Fair

13.1

40.4

8.5

 

 Poor

2.5

14.6

0.5

p < .0001

Has physical health problems that interfere at least moderately with daily activitiesb

27.6

80.1

18.8

p < .0001

Has emotional/mental health problems that interfere at least moderately with daily activitiesb

11.2

38.3

6.7

p < .0001

Has ≥3 chronic diseasesb,c

16.7

55.9

10.1

p < .0001

Has headaches, migraine, musculoskeletal pain, or other frequent/ongoing painb

30.5

65.6

24.6

p < .0001

Often feels depressed or is being treated for depressionb

10.3

29.2

8.4

p < .0001

Has problems falling or staying asleepb

12.7

36.4

8.8

p < .0001

Usually gets > 9 h of sleep per day

7.0

14.7

5.7

p < .0001

Usually gets ≤5 h of sleep per day

5.7

10.8

4.9

p < .0001

Has oral health problems that affect eating or speechb

7.6

25.1

4.7

p < .0001

Has vision problems that affect daily activitiesb

9.9

27.4

7.0

p < .0001

Has hearing problemb

24.4

50.8

19.9

p < .0001

Experiences urine leakage ≥ once/weekb

19.4

48.9

14.5

p < .0001

Has frequent problems with balance or walking

12.0

54.2

4.9

p < .0001

Has mobility limitationsb

 None

78.6

24.6

87.6

p < .0001

 Some difficulty moving around

10.4

24.6

8.0

 

 Uses a cane or poles when moving around

8.5

35.0

4.0

 

 Uses a motorized device or needs help from a person to get around

2.5

15.7

0.4

p < .0001

Had ≥1 fall in prior 12 months

24.7

56.1

19.7

p < .0001

  ≥ 2 falls in prior 12 months

11.3

33.3

7.7

p < .0001

Uses medication ≥2 times/week that can increase risk of falling

 Prescription anti-depressant

7.8

20.0

5.8

p < .0001

 Prescription anti-anxiety medication

4.8

15.1

3.1

p < .0001

 Prescription pain medication

17.6

42.4

13.4

p < .0001

 Prescription or over-the-counter sleep medicine

12.1

20.4

10.7

p < .0001

  ≥ 1 of above types of medication

30.4

56.7

26.0

p < .0001

  ≥ 2 of above types of medication

9.5

29.7

6.1

p < .0001

Needs help with ADLs and IADLsb

 Needs help with ≥2 ADLsd

2.3

15.8

0.8

p < .0001

 Needs help with ≥2 IADLse

6.2

38.4

0.8

p < .0001

Weight risk

 Underweight (BMI < 18.5)b

2.0

2.5

1.9

p < .05

 Obese (BMI ≥ 30)

24.3

32.7

22.8

p < .0001

Low exercise frequency (< Once a week or never)

12.2

30.2

9.3

p < .0001

No dental exam or teeth cleaning in past 12 months

19.4

31.6

17.5

p < .0001

Perception of how well can take care of self

 Very well/completely able

85.8

44.5

92.6

p < .0001

 Fairly well

11.0

34.9

7.0

 

 Not very well/not at all able

3.2

20.6

0.4

p < .0001

  1. Estimates are based on self-reported survey data weighted to the age-sex composition of KPNC members in 2014
  2. aSeniors were considered frail if the average of their frailty point score was ≥ 0.2 based on dividing total frailty points by the 34 point maximum
  3. bCharacteristic used as part of the FI calculation
  4. cChronic diseases included: diabetes, hypertension, history of heart disease, history of stroke, history of cancer (other than just skin cancer), COPD/chronic bronchitis, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis
  5. dADLs include: bathing, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed or chairs, using the toilet
  6. eIADLs include: preparing meals, doing laundry/chores, shopping, managing money, taking medication, using the phone
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BMC Primary Care

ISSN: 2731-4553

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