Identifying frailty and its associated factors in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Background and Aim: Frailty is an elderly people phenomenon; however, younger adults with comorbidities may show a higher trajectory of frailty toward older age. The frailty status of middle-aged patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains little researched. We aimed to identify frailty status and to investigate the association of clinical, sociodemographic, and psychosocial factors with frailty. Methods: This study included 114 patients aged between 40 and 65 years. The patients were classified as frail, pre-frail, and robust according to Fried's phenotype and the Kihon Checklist (KCL). Physical function, quality of life, depression, anxiety, and disease-related factors were assessed. Between-group comparisons and multinomial logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: Frailty and pre-frailty prevalences were 20.2% and 49.1% for Fried's phenotype and 36.0% and 33.3% for the KCL. Frail adults had impaired physical function and increased disease activity compared to pre-frail and robust patients. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that disease activity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12-2.34) and Short Physical Performance Battery (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.18-0.56) were associated with Fried's phenotype-determined frailty. Disease activity (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.11-3.26), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (OR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.56-4.67), and depression (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.18-2.02) were associated with the KCL determined frailty. Conclusion: Frailty and pre-frailty are commonly detected in middle-aged individuals with axSpA. Our findings highlight a possible need for frailty screening and preventive programs targeting middle-aged axSpA patients.