Prevalence of frailty and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults after total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the prevalence of frailty and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Materials and methods:

This study, which employed a cross-sectional, observational design, was conducted between April and November 2020. The participants were older adults (⩾65 years) who had undergone primary THA at the study hospital. Based on Fried’s modified phenotype, frailty was stratified into 3 degrees according to the presence of 3 or more of the following components: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, low activity level, and slow walking speed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the associations of frailty with its potential risk factors.

Results:

The data of 518 participants were analysed. The overall prevalence of frailty and prefrailty was 11.4% and 51.0%, respectively. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that calf circumference (odds ratio [OR] 0.716, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.611–0.839; p < 0.001), fall history (OR 2.435, 95% CI, 1.114–5.322; p = 0.026), hip abductor muscle strength (OR 0.962, 95% CI, 0.938–0.987; p = 0.003), knee extensor muscle strength (OR 0.980, 95% CI, 0.964–0.996; p = 0.013), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) performance (OR 1.802, 95% CI, 1.458–2.228; p < 0.001) were associated with frailty.

Conclusions:

Frailty was highly prevalent in community-dwelling older adults after THA. Further, its potential associations with calf circumference, hip abductor and knee extensor muscle strength, TUG performance, and fall history highlight the significance of these factors for interventions.