Perceived frailty and measured frailty among adults undergoing hemodialysis: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: Frailty, a validated measure of physiologic reserve, predicts adverse health outcomes among adults with end-stage renal disease. Frailty typically is not measured clinically; instead, a surrogate - perceived frailty - is used to inform clinical decision-making. Because correlations between perceived and measured frailty remain unknown, the aim of this study was to assess their relationship. Methods: 146 adults undergoing hemodialysis were recruited from a single dialysis center in Baltimore, Maryland. Patient characteristics associated with perceived (reported by nephrologists, nurse practitioners (NPs), or patients) or measured frailty (using the Fried criteria) were identified using ordered logistic regression. The relationship between perceived and measured frailty was assessed using percent agreement, kappa statistic, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and prevalence of misclassification of frailty. Patient characteristics associated with misclassification were determined using Fisher's exact tests, t-tests, or median tests. Results: Older age (adjusted OR [aOR]∈=∈1.36, 95%CI:1.11-1.68, P∈=∈0.003 per 5-years older) and comorbidity (aOR∈=∈1.49, 95%CI:1.27-1.75, P∈