Abstract
This study aims to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and frailty in older people in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients aged 60 or above at the National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam from 1/2018 to 7/2018. Frailty was defined by Fried’s frailty criteria. Frailty status was classified as robust (total Fried’s score=0) or prefrail/frail (Fried’s score≥1). Metabolic syndrome was defined as having ≥3 criteria of the definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adults Treatment Panel (ATP) III.
Results
N=660, mean age 71.4 ± 8.7, 60.3% female, 90.5% was classified as prefrail/frail, 61.1% had metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the prefrail/frail was significantly higher than in the robust (63.1% vs 41.3%, p=0.001, respectively). On univariate logistic regression, metabolic syndrome increased the likelihood of being prefrail/frail (OR 2.44, 95%CI 1.44–4.14). The relationship between metabolic syndrome and frailty was still significant after adjusting for age, gender, income status, education level, chronic disease and appendicular lean mass (adjusted OR 1.98, 95%CI 1.10–3.57). In conclusion, metabolic syndrome was associated with a two-fold increased risk of having frailty in this studied population. Further studies are required to investigate the role of prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome in the management of frailty in older people in Vietnam.