Gender Differences in the Incidence and Determinants of Components of the Frailty Phenotype Among Older Adults: Findings From the SABE Study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze gender differences in incidence and determinants of the components of the frailty phenotype.

Method: A total of 1,413 older adults were selected in 2006. To estimate the incidence of each frailty component, only individuals who did not exhibit a given component at baseline (independently of the presence of other components) were included in the study. The variables of interest were socioeconomic, behavioral, clinical, anthropometric factors and physical performance. The incidence of each component in 2010 was the outcome.

Results: Unintentional weight loss and slowness were more incident in men up to 74 years of age. The other frailty components were more incident in women at all age groups, except weakness. Besides age, the determinants of incidence of the components of frailty were different between genders.

Discussion: Strategies for preventing or delaying the installation of frailty need to address gender differences, considering the greater complexity in the network determinants among women.

Keywords: frailty; gender; incidence; phenotype; syndrome.