Exploring deficit patterns among frail people may reveal subgroups of different prognostic importance.
Analysis of National Health and Aging Trends Study.
Community.
Community dwelling older adults with mild to moderate frailty (deficit‐accumulation...
Exploring deficit patterns among frail people may reveal subgroups of different prognostic importance.
Analysis of National Health and Aging Trends Study.
Community.
Community dwelling older adults with mild to moderate frailty (deficit‐accumulation frailty index (FI) of 0.25–0.40) (n = 1821).
Latent class analysis identified distinct clinical subgroups based on comorbidity (range: 0–10), National Health and Aging Trends Study dementia classification, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) (range: 0–12). Survival analyses compared 5‐year mortality by subgroups.
Three latent classes existed: Class 1 (n = 831, mean FI = 0.30) had 2.7% probable dementia, high comorbidities (mean = 3.6), and low physical impairment (SPPB mean = 9.9); Class 2 (n = 734, mean FI = 0.32) had 6.9% probable dementia, low comorbidities (mean = 2.8), and moderate physical impairment (SPPB mean = 6.2); Class 3 (n = 256, mean FI = 0.34) had 20.7% probable dementia, low comorbidities (mean = 2.4), and high physical impairment (SPPB mean = 2.0). Compared to Class 1, Classes 2 and 3 experienced higher 5‐year mortality (C2: 1.28 (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.00–1.62); C3: 1.87 (95% CI = 1.29–2.73)).
Deficit patterns among the mild‐to‐moderately frail provide additional prognostic information and highlight opportunities for preventive interventions.