Examine the Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Frailty in an Older Asian Population

Abstract

Background: There has been evidence that metabolic syndrome (MetS) may increase the risk of frailty. However, there is limited evidence on this association in Asian populations. Aims: This study aims to identify the association between MetS and frailty in older people in Vietnam. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of a dataset that was obtained from an observational study on frailty and sarcopenia in patients aged ≥60 at a geriatric hospital in Vietnam. Frailty was defined by the frailty phenotype. The participants were defined as having MetS if they had ≥3 out of 5 criteria from the definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adults Treatment Panel (ATP) III. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to estimate the risk of having frailty in patients with MetS. Results: Of the 669 participants (mean age 71, 60.2% female), 62.3% had MetS and 39.0% were frail. The prevalence of frailty was 42.2% in participants with MetS and 33.7% in participants without MetS (p = 0.029). On the logistic regression models, MetS was associated with an increased likelihood of being frail (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.01–2.28), allowing for age, sex, education, nutritional status, history of hospitalization, and chronic diseases. Conclusion: There was a significant association between MetS and frailty in this population. Further longitudinal studies are required to confirm this association.