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The frailty syndrome in general practitioner care

A pilot study

Das Frailty-Syndrom in der hausärztlichen Praxis

Eine Pilotstudie

  • Original Contribution
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Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Knowledge about frailty among patients seen by general practitioners (GP) is currently limited.

Patients and methods

Frailty assessment by the criteria of Fried and additional documentation was performed at a GP’s office.

Results

Out of 119 participating patients, 14.3% were classified as frail, 52.1% as prefrail, and 33.6% as not frail. Frailty was associated with comorbidity, the number of drugs prescribed, depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and frequency of falls.

Conclusion

The prevalence of frailty is high among the cohort of elderly persons seen by a GP. Routine frailty assessment will help to direct preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Anwendbarkeit und Prävalenz der Frailty-Diagnose nach Fried in einer Hausarztpraxis zu testen und ihre Beziehung zu Komorbidität, Medikation, depressiven Symptomen, kognitiver Funktion sowie Sturzhäufigkeit zu untersuchen.

Patienten und Methoden

Neben dem Frailty-Assessment wurden bei allen in die Studie eingeschlossenen Praxispatienten über 65 Jahre Informationen zu Lebensqualität, depressiver Stimmung, kognitiver Leistungsfähigkeit, Sturzhäufigkeit, Medikamenteneinnahme und Komorbidität dokumentiert.

Ergebnisse

Von 119 Teilnehmern waren 14,3% „frail“, 52,1% „prefrail“ und 33,6% ohne Zeichen einer Frailty. Es zeigte sich eine signifikante Assoziation der Frailty mit Polypharmazie, Multimorbidität, Depression, kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen, Sturzhäufigkeit und reduzierter Lebensqualität. Der bevorzugte Interventionsansatz unterschied sich signifikant zwischen den Frailty-Kategorien.

Schlussfolgerung

Ein Frailty-Assessment nach Fried ist in der hausärztlichen Praxis einfach durchführbar. Da die Frailty-Prävalenz unter Hausarztpatienten hoch ist, kann ein routinemäßiges Frailty-Assessment helfen, auf präventive und therapeutische Maßnahmen zu fokussieren.

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Acknowledgment

Michael Drey and Jürgen M. Bauer were supported by a Forschungskolleg Geriatrie Grant from the Robert Bosch Foundation, Stuttgart, Germany.

Conflict of interests

The corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Klinikum Nürnberg, Prof.-Ernst-Nathan-Str. 1, 90419, Nürnberg, Deutschland

    M. Drey, H. Wehr, G. Wehr, C.C. Sieber & J.M. Bauer

  2. Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry & Epidemiology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Deutschland

    W. Uter

  3. Institute of Psychogerontology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Deutschland

    F. Lang & R. Rupprecht

  4. Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Gerontologie, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Deutschland

    W. Uter, F. Lang, R. Rupprecht, C.C. Sieber & J.M. Bauer

Authors
  1. M. Drey
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  2. H. Wehr
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  3. G. Wehr
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  4. W. Uter
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  7. C.C. Sieber
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  8. J.M. Bauer
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Correspondence to M. Drey.

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Drey, M., Wehr, H., Wehr, G. et al. The frailty syndrome in general practitioner care. Z Gerontol Geriat 44, 48–54 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-010-0136-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-010-0136-3

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