Table 1 Baseline characteristics stratified by CFS frailty group
All n = 592 | Non-frail (robust) CFS 1–4 n = 174 (29) | Mild- moderately frail CFS 5–6 n = 295 (50) | Severely frail CFS 7–9 n = 123 (21) | P*= | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demographic characteristics | |||||
Sex – Female n, (%) | 349 (59) | 86 (49) | 180 (61) | 83 (66) | 0.005 |
Age median (IQR) | 82 (76–86) | 78 (73–83) | 82 (76–87) | 85 (79–90) | < 0.001 |
BMI median (IQR) | 27 (22–32) | 27 (24–32) | 27 (22–33) | 25 (21–31) | 0.039 |
Primary Language English n, (%) | 484 (82) | 144 (83) | 245 (83) | 94 (77) | 0.345 |
Reside in Residential Aged Care Facility n, (%) | 60 (10) | 1 (0.6) | 24 (8) | 35 (29) | < 0.001 |
Clinical characteristics | |||||
Australian Modified Karnofsky Performance Scale (pre-morbid) | 60 (50–70) | 80 (70–90) | 60 (50–60) | 40 (40–50) | < 0.001 |
Modified Charlson comorbidity Index | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–2) | 1 (0–3) | 0.005 |
Assessment of Cognitive function completed n, (%) | 433 (73) | 134 (77) | 211 (72) | 88 (72) | 0.391 |
Evidence of Cognitive deficit (according to a validated assessment tool) n, (%) | 138 (23) | 21 (12) | 59 (20) | 58 (47) | <0.001 |
4AT (Delirium and cognitive impairment screening) score (n = 398) median (IQR) | 0 (0–3) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–2) | 3 (0–4) | < 0.001 |
Medication use | |||||
Antiepileptics n, (%) | 36 (6) | 8 (5) | 21 (7) | 7 (6) | 0.533 |
Anxiolytics & hypnotics/benzodiazepines n, (%) | 56 (10) | 17 (10) | 24 (8) | 15 (12) | 0.428 |
Analgesics n, (%) | 443 (75) | 116 (67) | 231 (78) | 96 (78) | 0.013 |
Hypoglycaemics (oral, insulin) n, (%) | 181 (32) | 46 (26) | 103 (35) | 40 (33) | 0.162 |
Antacids n, (%) | 186 (31) | 24 (13) | 111 (38) | 51 (42) | < 0.001 |
Loop Diuretics n, (%) | 170 (29) | 32 (19) | 95 (32) | 43 (35) | 0.001 |
Antiarrhythmic (including Digoxin) n, (%) | 191 (32) | 63 (36) | 98 (33) | 30 (25) | 0.088 |
Nitrate or other vasodilators n, (%) | 81 (14) | 19 (11) | 47 (16) | 15 (12) | 0.270 |
Antidepressants n, (%) | 123 (21) | 26 (15) | 66 (23) | 31 (25) | 0.063 |
Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) n, (%) | 147 (25) | 34 (20) | 75 (26) | 28 (40) | 0.079 |
Warfarin n, (%) | 41 (7) | 11 (6) | 20 (7) | 10 (8) | 0.825 |
Antihypertensive n, (%) | 345 (58) | 100 (56) | 180 (61) | 65 (53) | 0.294 |
Proton-pump inhibitors n, (%) | 131 (22) | 52 (30) | 61 (21) | 18 (15) | 0.005 |
Antiparkinsonian drugs n, (%) | 20 (4) | 9 (5) | 11 (4) | 4(3) | 0.730 |
Statins n, (%) | 351 (59) | 111 (64) | 179 (61) | 61 (50) | 0.039 |
Antiplatelet n, (%) | 253 (43) | 88 (51) | 129 (44) | 36 (29) | 0.001 |
Antipsychotics n, (%) | 39 (7) | 6 (4) | 19 (7) | 14 (11) | 0.025 |
Total number of prescription medications n, (%) | 9 (7–13) | 8 (6–11) | 10 (7–14) | 10 (7–14) | < 0.001 |
Biochemistry | |||||
Creatinine | 83 (66–111) | 82 (66–99) | 82 (66–112) | 85 (65–127) | 0.082 |
Albumin | 31 (28–34) | 33 (28–35) | 31 (28–33) | 29 (24–32) | < 0.001 |
Haemoglobin | 120 (106–132) | 124 (112–137) | 120 (105–130) | 113 (103–129 | < 0.001 |