Predictors of frailty development in a general population of older adults in Japan using the Frailty Index for Japanese elderly patients

Aim: To identify predictors for the onset of frailty in Japanese older adults using the Frailty Index for Japanese elderly people, we focused on subjects who participated in a routine health check. Methods: Of 357 older people (age, ≥70 years) who participated in a routine health check-up in Kusatsu, Japan in 2005, 334 individuals were identified as non-frail and were followed up 2 years later. A logistic regression model using the stepwise method was used to identify predictors for the onset of frailty, after controlling for age and gender. Results: A total of 45 subjects (13.5%) had developed symptoms of frailty at follow-up. Even after multiple adjustment for controlling factors, a history of hypertension, hand grip strength, and albumin were significantly associated with frailty 2 years later (odds ratio [OR], 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-5.25; OR per 1 kg decrease, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.16; OR per 0.1 g/dl decrease, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.46, respectively). Conclusion: These results supported a definition of frailty which includes geriatric symptoms such as vascular disease and sarcopenia in Japanese older adults. Undernutrition was strongly associated with the onset of frailty and is an important target for prevention.