Practical Geriatrics ›› 2022, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 45-48.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2022.01.012

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Correlation between frailty and carotid intima-media thickness in the elderly

YU Yue-cai, LI Jie   

  1. Department of Physical Examination, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, China
  • Received:2021-02-07 Online:2022-01-20 Published:2022-01-25

Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between frailty and carotid intima-media thickness(cIMT)in the elderly. Methods By using purposive sampling method, a totall of 457 elderly people aged 65 years and over who underwent physical examination in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University during June to December 2020 were selected as the subjects.All the subjects received an interviewer-administered questionnaire survey using self-designed general data questionnaire and FRAIL scale. And the levels of cIMT and serum biochemical indexes of the subjects were measured. According to FRAIL scale score, the subjects were divided into frailty group (FRAIL scale score≥3) and non-frailty group (FRAIL scale score<3). Univariate analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to explore the association between frailty and cIMT in the elderly. Results The prevalence rate of frailty in the elderly was 29.76%. Age, the levels of BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP), Charlson complication index (CCI), cIMT and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were significantly different between the two groups(P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, CCI score, cIMT and eGFR were the independent influencing factors of FRAIL scale score in the elderly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve of cIMT for predicting frailty was significantly greater than that of age (0.812 VS 0.667, Z=3.644, P<0.001), CCI score (0.812 VS 0.724, Z=2.573, P=0.010) and eGFR (0.812 VS 0.689, Z=3.653, P<0.001).The optimal cut-off value of cIMT was 1.089 mm, which displayed a sensitivity of 69.12% and a specificity of 87.85% for the prediction of frailty in the elderly. Conclusions The elderly people have higher prevalence rate of frailty. Age, CCI score, cIMT and eGFR are closely related to frailty. cIMT may be used for the evaluation of frailty status in the elderly.

Key words: aged, frailty, carotid intima-media thickness, risk factor

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