Assessment of frailty and its predictors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND

Frailty represents a state of risk in which a relatively small stressor results in a disproportionate decline in health status. This study aims to determine the prevalence of frailty among patients with COPD in the Indian population and its associated risk factors.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 COPD patients. Frailty was assessed using the frailty phenotype method.

RESULTS

The mean age (SD) of the study population was 60.59 (5.9) years with 88.67% males and 53.33% ex-smokers. The prevalence of frailty was 51.33% (n = 77). Most of the frail patients belonged to GOLD group D (66.23%) (P < 0.0001). Post-bronchodilator FEV1(%) was lowest in the frail group (40 [36-47]%) (P < 0.0001). Risk of frailty significantly correlated with smoking pack years (1.036; 1.001-1.074), history of 1 exacerbation in last year (6.810; 2.036-22.779), post-bronchodilator FVC(%) (0.955; 0.926-0.985), post-bronchodilator FEV1(%) (0.940; 0.913-0.968), distance covered in 6-minute walk test [0.975; 0.965-0.986] and dyspnoea severity [1.044; 1.024-1.063]. In multivariate regression, 6-minute walk distance and GOLD group B were the independent predictors of frailty in COPD.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of frailty in Indian patients with COPD was 51.33%. Six-minute walk distance is an important predictor of frailty. Early identification of frailty will lead to prompt intervention and rehabilitation.