Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41136889›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Chronic diseases and frailty transitions in community-dwelling older adults: evidence from a national longitudinal cohort study.

Shu-Hua Lu, Hsiao-Ju Chan, Yun-Ping Lin, Thi-Lien To, Chih-Jung Yeh, Meng-Chih Lee, Wen-Chun Liao

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Shu-Hua LuSchool of Nursing, China Medical University, Shui-Nan Campus Teaching Building, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., 406040, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hsiao-Ju ChanSchool of Nursing, China Medical University, Shui-Nan Campus Teaching Building, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., 406040, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yun-Ping LinSchool of Nursing, China Medical University, Shui-Nan Campus Teaching Building, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., 406040, Taichung, Taiwan.
Thi-Lien ToFaculty of Nursing, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, 70000, Vietnam.
Chih-Jung YehSchool of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan.
Meng-Chih LeeDepartment of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, 40343, Taiwan. mengchihlee@gmail.com.
Wen-Chun LiaoSchool of Nursing, China Medical University, Shui-Nan Campus Teaching Building, No. 100, Sec. 1, Jingmao Rd., Beitun Dist., 406040, Taichung, Taiwan. wcl@mail.cmu.edu.tw.

Funding

China Medical Unviersity CMU112-TC-06Ministry of Health and Welfare M1413278
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAs global populations age, the prevalence of chronic diseases among older adults continues to rise. Although previous research has explored the relationship between chronic diseases and frailty, most studies used cross-sectional designs, limiting their ability to capture dynamic changes in frailty over time.

objectivesThis study investigated the association between chronic diseases and frailty transitions among older adults while identifying factors influencing frailty worsening and improvement over time.

methodsData were drawn from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, a nationally representative survey. Frailty status was assessed based on the criteria of the Fried frailty phenotype. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between chronic diseases and frailty transitions, using data from 2007 To 2011. Community-dwelling older adults ( > = 65 years) with cognitive intact (SPMSQ > = 8) were recruited.

resultsAmong the 1,283 participants, the prevalence of frailty was 8.7% in 2007. Among participants who were non-frail in 2007, by 2011, 10.2% had shown improvement, 41.2% remained stable, and 35.0% experienced worsening frailty. Results of multivariate nominal logistic regression indicated that individuals aged ≥ 75 years (RRR = 1.689, 95% CI:1.297-2.200, p < .001), females (RRR = 1.464, 95% CI:1.112-1.928, p = .007), and those with heart disease (RRR = 1.557, 1.137-2.134, p = .006) had a significantly higher risk of frailty worsening. Heart disease was also significantly associated with frailty improvement (RRR = 2.173, 1.439-3.283, p < .001). Gender-stratified analysis revealed that individuals aged ≥ 75 years had a higher risk of frailty worsening in both genders, while heart disease was associated with both frailty improvement (RRR = 2.136, 95% CI:1.229-3.711, p = .007) and worsening (RRR = 1.534, 95% CI:1.003-2.344, p = .048) in non-frail males, and heart disease (RRR = 2.101, 95% CI:1.136-3.885, p = .018) and musculoskeletal diseases (RRR = 2.095, 95% CI:1.151-3.812, p = .015) were significantly associated with frailty improvement in non-frail females.

conclusionsOlder age, gender, and chronic diseases play pivotal roles in frailty transitions, with heart disease identified as an important factor for frailty improvement in both genders. Early frailty screening and sex-sensitive approaches may help mitigate frailty progression among community-dwelling older adults.

Indexed as

Frail ElderlyFrailtyIndependent LivingAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesDisease ProgressionFemaleGeriatric AssessmentHumansLongitudinal StudiesMalePrevalenceTaiwanChronic diseaseCommunity-dwellingFrailtyLongitudinal studyOlder adults

Identifiers

PMID41136889
PMCPMC12551285

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.