Frailty and chronic kidney disease: associations and implications / Fragilidade e doença renal crônica: associações e implicações

ABSTRACT Introduction: Frailty and its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been established previously. The present study examined this association further by studying the distribution of frailty among groups defined by different stages of the disease. It also identified associated health deficits and explored their association with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 90 non-dialysis dependent CKD Stage 1-4 patients, recruited in three stratified groups of 30 participants each based on the stage of disease. Frailty was assessed using Fried's frailty criteria and associated health deficits were recorded using a pre-determined list. Depression was screened using a 4-point depression scale. Results: 21.1% of the participants were frail and 43.3% were pre-frail. The proportion of frailty in CKD groups A (Stages 1 and 2), B (Stage 3a), and C (Stages 3b and 4) was 10%, 13.3%, and 40%, respectively. The association of health deficits including co-morbidities, physical parameters, mental status, daily activities, etc. with UACR, eGFR, and CKD stages was not statistically significant. Nearly one in two frail participants was depressed compared with 14% among non-frail participants. Conclusion: The skewed distribution of 21% frail subjects identified in our study indicates an association between frailty and advancing kidney disease. Frail individuals had a lower eGFR, higher UACR, were more likely to be depressed, and had higher count of health deficits and poorer performance on Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living and WHOQOL. Early identification of depression would improve care in these patients.

RESUMO Introdução: Fragilidade e sua associação com DRC foram estabelecidas anteriormente. O presente estudo aprofundou esta associação, estudando distribuição da fragilidade entre grupos definidos por diferentes estágios da doença. Também identificou déficits de saúde associados e explorou sua associação com taxa de filtração glomerular estimada (TFGe) e relação albumina/creatinina urinária (RAC). Métodos: Realizou-se uma pesquisa transversal em 90 pacientes com DRC Estágios 1-4 não dependentes de diálise, recrutados em três grupos estratificados de 30 participantes cada, conforme estágio da doença. Avaliou-se fragilidade usando os critérios de fragilidade de Fried e registraram-se os déficits de saúde associados usando uma lista pré-determinada. A depressão foi verificada utilizando a escala de depressão de 4 pontos. Resultados: 21,1% dos participantes eram frágeis e 43,3% eram pré-frágeis. A proporção de fragilidade nos grupos de DRC A (Estágios 1 e 2), B (Estágio 3a), e C (Estágios 3b e 4) foi de 10%, 13,3%, 40% respectivamente. A associação de déficits de saúde, incluindo comorbidades, parâmetros físicos, estado mental, atividades diárias etc. com RAC, TFGe e estágios da DRC não foi estatisticamente significativa. Cerca de um em cada dois participantes frágeis estava depressivo comparados com 14% entre não frágeis. Conclusão: A distribuição enviesada de 21% dos indivíduos frágeis identificados em nosso estudo indica associação entre fragilidade e doença renal progressiva. Indivíduos frágeis apresentaram menor TFGe, maior RAC, eram mais propensos a depressão, tinham maior índice de déficits de saúde e desempenho inferior no Índice de Atividades da Vida Diária de Barthel e WHOQOL. A identificação precoce da depressão melhoraria o atendimento desses pacientes.

Frailty and chronic kidney disease: associations and implications.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty and its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been established previously. The present study examined this association further by studying the distribution of frailty among groups defined by different stages of the disease. It also identified associated health deficits and explored their association with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 90 non-dialysis dependent CKD Stage 1-4 patients, recruited in three stratified groups of 30 participants each based on the stage of disease. Frailty was assessed using Fried's frailty criteria and associated health deficits were recorded using a pre-determined list. Depression was screened using a 4-point depression scale. RESULTS: 21.1% of the participants were frail and 43.3% were pre-frail. The proportion of frailty in CKD groups A (Stages 1 and 2), B (Stage 3a), and C (Stages 3b and 4) was 10%, 13.3%, and 40%, respectively. The association of health deficits including co-morbidities, physical parameters, mental status, daily activities, etc. with UACR, eGFR, and CKD stages was not statistically significant. Nearly one in two frail participants was depressed compared with 14% among non-frail participants. CONCLUSION: The skewed distribution of 21% frail subjects identified in our study indicates an association between frailty and advancing kidney disease. Frail individuals had a lower eGFR, higher UACR, were more likely to be depressed, and had higher count of health deficits and poorer performance on Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living and WHOQOL. Early identification of depression would improve care in these patients.

Elderly Population Has Higher Prevalence of Polypharmacy Associated with Poor Quality of Life and Low Compliance after Recovery from COVID-19.

Background: Long term effects of COVID are not fully understood yet. The geriatric population has been badly affected. The impact of COVID-19 on the health-related quality of life after recovery and patient compliance is a matter of concern especially in the geriatric population where polypharmacy is often prevalent. Aims and Objectives: This study intended to observe the occurrence of polypharmacy (PP) among COVID-19 recovered older patients with multimorbidity and explore its association with health-related quality of life and compliance in these patients. Materials and Methods: Total 90 patients, above 60 years of age having two or more co-morbidities and recovered from COVID-19 infection were included in this cross-sectional study. Number of pills taken daily by each patient was noted, to determine the occurrence of PP. WHO-QOL-BREF was used to assess the effect of PP on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Medication adherence was measured using a self-reported questionnaire. Results: PP was found in 94.4% while hyper polypharmacy was found in 45.56% of patients. The overall mean score of HRQOL in patients with PP was 187.91 ± 32.98, indicating poor quality of life with PP (p value 0.0014) whereas the overall mean score of HRQOL in patients with hyper polypharmacy was 177.41 ± 26.11, showing poor quality of life with hyper polypharmacy (p value 0.0005). Increased number of pills corelated with poor quality of life (r =0.49). The medication adherence was found to be poor in patients who received mean number of pills 10.44 ± 2.62 whereas the adherence was good if the mean number of pills was 8.20 ± 2.63, (p value of 0.0001). Conclusion: Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among COVID-19 recovered patients and is associated with poor quality of life as well as poor medication adherence.