TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of anemia and cardiovascular disease on frailty status of community-dwelling older women
T2 - The women's health and aging studies I and II
AU - Chaves, Paulo H.M.
AU - Semba, Richard D.
AU - Leng, Sean X.
AU - Woodman, Richard C.
AU - Ferrucci, Luigi
AU - Guralnik, Jack M.
AU - Fried, Linda P.
N1 - Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was supported by contract N01 AG12112, grant R01 AG11703-01, and Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers grant P30 AG021334, from the National Institute on Aging; and by grant RR00722 from the National Institutes of Health-NCRR, OPD-GCRC. Dr. Woodman is an employee of Johnson & Johnson.
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - Background. The physiological basis of the geriatric syndrome of frailty, a clinical state of increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes such as disability and mortality, remains to be better characterized. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) and a recently-validated measure of frailty in community-dwelling older women, and whether this relationship was modified by cardiovascular disease (CVD) status. Methods. Data were pooled from women 70-80 years old participating in the Women's Health and Aging Studies I and II (Baltimore, MD, 1992-1996) with known frailty status and Hb ≥ 10 g/dL (n = 670). Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between frailty and Hb, adjusting for demographics, major chronic diseases, and physiologic and functional impairments. Results. Prevalence of frailty was 14%. Frailty risk was highest at the lowest Hb levels, and lowest at mid-normal Hb levels (e.g., 13-14 g/dL). Mildly low and low-normal Hb concentrations were independently associated with frailty. Compared to an Hb concentration equal to 13.5 g/dL, the adjusted odds of being frail were 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-3.4) and 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-2.1) times higher for Hb concentrations equal to 11.5 g/dL and 12 g/dL, respectively. A statistically significant (p < .05) multiplicative interaction between Hb level and CVD status with respect to frailty risk was observed. Conclusion. In community-dwelling older women, mildly low and low-normal Hb levels were independently associated with increased frailty risk. This risk was synergistically modified by the presence of CVD. These results suggest that mild anemia, and even low-normal Hb levels are independent, potentially modifiable risk factors for frailty in community-dwelling older adults.
AB - Background. The physiological basis of the geriatric syndrome of frailty, a clinical state of increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes such as disability and mortality, remains to be better characterized. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) and a recently-validated measure of frailty in community-dwelling older women, and whether this relationship was modified by cardiovascular disease (CVD) status. Methods. Data were pooled from women 70-80 years old participating in the Women's Health and Aging Studies I and II (Baltimore, MD, 1992-1996) with known frailty status and Hb ≥ 10 g/dL (n = 670). Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between frailty and Hb, adjusting for demographics, major chronic diseases, and physiologic and functional impairments. Results. Prevalence of frailty was 14%. Frailty risk was highest at the lowest Hb levels, and lowest at mid-normal Hb levels (e.g., 13-14 g/dL). Mildly low and low-normal Hb concentrations were independently associated with frailty. Compared to an Hb concentration equal to 13.5 g/dL, the adjusted odds of being frail were 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-3.4) and 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.0-2.1) times higher for Hb concentrations equal to 11.5 g/dL and 12 g/dL, respectively. A statistically significant (p < .05) multiplicative interaction between Hb level and CVD status with respect to frailty risk was observed. Conclusion. In community-dwelling older women, mildly low and low-normal Hb levels were independently associated with increased frailty risk. This risk was synergistically modified by the presence of CVD. These results suggest that mild anemia, and even low-normal Hb levels are independent, potentially modifiable risk factors for frailty in community-dwelling older adults.
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U2 - 10.1093/gerona/60.6.729
DO - 10.1093/gerona/60.6.729
M3 - Article
C2 - 15983175
AN - SCOPUS:21144434842
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 60
SP - 729
EP - 735
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 6
ER -