Prevalence of social frailty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from a multicentre observational study (T-FLAG study)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of social frailty and associated factors. Methods A total of 655 consecutive patients who were able to complete the Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the Questionnaire on Social Frailty between June and August 2022 were enrolled. Social frailty was assessed using the Makizako Social Frailty Index. Patient characteristics were analysed by analysis of variance. Factors associated with social frailty were analysed using multivariate logistic analysis. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were used to examine correlations between each KCL domain and social frailty. Results The mean age was 68 years, and the disease duration was 12 years; 73% of patients were female. Social frailty was present in 30.8% of patients, with 36.5% classified as social prefrailty. Multivariate analysis revealed age and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index to be independent factors associated with social frailty. The proportion of social frailty increased with increasing age and worsening Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index scores. The KCL domain ‘Isolation’ was the most strongly associated with social frailty (r = .601, P < .001), with higher scores associated with a higher proportion of social frailty. Conclusions Social frailty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is associated with age and physical impairment (Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index). Moreover, the KCL domain ‘Isolation’ was strongly associated with social frailty.