The Burden of Frailty Among U.S. Veterans and Its Association With Mortality, 2002-2012.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Frailty is a key determinant of clinical outcomes. We sought to describe frailty among U.S. Veterans and its association with mortality.

Methods

Nationwide retrospective cohort study of regular Veterans Affairs (VA) users, aged at least 65 years in 2002-2012, followed through 2014, using national VA administrative and Medicare and Medicaid data. A frailty index (FI) for VA (VA-FI) was calculated using the cumulative deficit method. Thirty-one age-related deficits in health from diagnostic and procedure codes were included and were updated biennially. Survival analysis assessed associations between VA-FI and mortality.

Results

A VA-FI was calculated for 2,837,152 Veterans over 10 years. In 2002, 35.5% were non-frail (FI = 0-0.10), 32.6% were pre-frail (FI =

SUBMITTER: Orkaby AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625596 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature