Kim S, Park JL, Hwang HS, Kim YP
Korean J Fam Med 2014;35:309-320
Publication date: November 1, 2014
Summary
Frailty and cognitive impairment are considered the most common and yet the least well understood conditions in older adults. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between frailty and cognitive function in non-demented older Koreans.
Health Study Frailty Indices were obtained for 486 older adults aged 65 years and older who registered at six senior welfare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. Of the 486 older adults, 206 (42.4%) were robust, 244 (50.2%) were prefrail, and 36 (7.4%) were frail. Prevalence of cognitive impairment was 6.3% in the robust group, 16.8% in the prefrail group, and 30.6% in the frail group (P < 0.001), and mean K-MMSE score was 27.5 ± 2.2, 26.5 ± 3.1, and 23.7 ± 5.3, respectively (P < 0.001). Frailty tended to be associated with lower MMSE scores.
Frailty was found to be correlated with cognitive impairment in non-demented older Koreans. However, further cohort studies are required to determine the association between frailty and cognitive function.