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. 2020 Oct 15;76(9):1633–1642. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glaa267

Table 3.

Global Cognitive Level at Baseline (Cohen’s d, SD) and Cognitive Change (Cohen’s d, SD/year) by Frailty Status (PFP) and Its Criteria Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (2011–2016, n = 7439) in Separate Models

Global Cognitive Level at Baseline
Nonfrail
β 1
Frail
β 1 + β 2
Excess Effect
β 2
Criterion Cohen’s d (SE) Cohen’s d (SE) Cohen’s d (SE)
Weight loss −0.052 (0.024)** −0.231 (0.029)** −0.179 (0.036)**
Exhaustion 0.018 (0.018) −0.202 (0.024)** −0.220 (0.026)**
Low physical activity −0.029 (0.017)* −0.217 (0.024)** −0.188 (0.026)**
Slow gait −0.275 (0.026)** −0.340 (0.026)** −0.065 (0.034)*
Weakness −0.042 (0.021)** −0.276 (0.026)** −0.234 (0.031)**
Global Cognitive Change
Nonfrail
β 4
Frail
β 4 + β 5
Excess Effect
β 5
Cohen’s d/year (SE) Cohen’s d/year (SE) Cohen’s d/year (SE)
Weight loss −0.019 (0.006)** −0.015 (0.009)* 0.004 (0.011)
Exhaustion 0.0003 (0.005) −0.012 (0.007)* −0.012 (0.008)
Low physical activity −0.002 (0.005) −0.021 (0.007)** −0.019 (0.008)**
Slow gait −0.024 (0.007)** −0.030 (0.008)** −0.006 (0.010)
Weakness −0.018 (0.006)** −0.013 (0.008) 0.005 (0.010)

Notes: PFP = physical frailty phenotype. Frailty was operationalized using the PFP. Results from a series of multiple linear regression models with random slopes (time) and intercepts (person) testing the associations between the individual frailty criteria and cognitive level and change among frail versus nonfrail participants. All models were controlled for age, sex, race, education, income, and number of comorbidities. Excess effect refers to the association between frailty and cognitive performance/decline above and beyond each of the respective criteria (ie, for those who are positive for frailty and positive for the criterion of interest).

E(Cognij|Xij(b0i,b1,)=(β0+b0i)+β1(Criterionk)+β2(Criterionk*PFP)+(β3+b1i)(Time)+β4(Time*Criterionk)+β5(Time*PFP*Criterionk)β11m=6(Covariatesm)+εij

*Significance at a cutoff level of p = .10. **Significance at a cutoff level of p = .05.