Frailty Screening of Older Adults in the Context of Primary Health Care

Introduction: Older adults are high risk to chronic diseases that lead to increased frailty and mortality as well as increased pressure on the health system, through screening and early detection of frail older adults in primary healthcare, the associated complications as well as mortality can be reduced. The aim of this study is frailty screening of older adults based on chronic diseases.Material and Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran (Iran) in ۲۰۱۹. A two stage cluster sampling method was employed. Level of frailty were screened by the PRIZMA-۷ questionnaire. The Questionnaire was piloted with۱۸ respondents. The test-retest reliability score for the questionnaire was r=۰.۸۲, p<۰.۰۰۱. Data analysis of the questionnaire was conducted using nonparametric tests and Logistic Regression model by SPSS software Version ۲۲.Results: frailty level of ۷۶ ≤ years’ old people were ۱۲.۵۹ times higher than people aged ۶۵-۶۰ years. Frailty level of men was ۰.۹۷ times higher than women, which was not statistically significant. Median (Q۱-Q۳) frailty of ۹۹ older adults who suffer from cardio diseases was ۱(۱-۲) and it was, ۱(۰-۲) for older adults who did not. Median (Q۱-Q۳) frailty was ۲ (۰-۴) for ۱۴۹ older adults with bone disease and ۱ (۰-۱) for people who did not. According to Mann-Whitney test, these difference for both diseases were statistically significant (p-value <۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Early detection of older adults in the age group of ۷۶≤ years and the older adults who suffering from cardiovascular and bone disease can be more effective to decrees frailty consecutions

Keywords:

Frailty , Brief screening , Older adults , Chronic disease , Primary care.