Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank

Background Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with significant morbidity. Frailty combines biological ageing, comorbidity and psychosocial factors and can predict adverse health outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that frailty is higher in individuals with SMI than in the general population...

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Main Authors: Nicola Warren, Stuart Leske, Urska Arnautovska, Korinne Northwood, Steve Kisely, Dan Siskind
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-11-01
Series:BJPsych Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300580X/type/journal_article
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author Nicola Warren
Stuart Leske
Urska Arnautovska
Korinne Northwood
Steve Kisely
Dan Siskind
author_facet Nicola Warren
Stuart Leske
Urska Arnautovska
Korinne Northwood
Steve Kisely
Dan Siskind
author_sort Nicola Warren
collection DOAJ
description Background Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with significant morbidity. Frailty combines biological ageing, comorbidity and psychosocial factors and can predict adverse health outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that frailty is higher in individuals with SMI than in the general population, although studies have been limited by sample size. Aims To describe the prevalence of frailty in people with SMI in a large cohort using three different frailty measures and examine the impact of demographic and sociodemographic variables. Method The UK Biobank survey data, which included individuals aged 37–73 years from England, Scotland and Wales from 2006 to 2010, with linked in-patient hospital episodes, were utilised. The prevalence of frailty in individuals with and without SMI was assessed through three frailty measures: frailty index, physical frailty phenotype (PFP) and Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Stratified analysis and dichotomous logistic regression were conducted. Results A frailty index could be calculated for 99.5% of the 502 412 UK Biobank participants and demonstrated greater prevalence of frailty in women and an increase with age. The prevalence of frailty for those with SMI was 3.19% (95% CI 3.0–3.4), 4.2% (95% CI 3.8–4.7) and 18% (95% CI 15–23) using the frailty index, PFP and HFRS respectively. The prevalence ratio was between 3 and 18 times higher than in those without SMI. Conclusions As a measure, frailty captures the known increase in morbidity associated with SMI and may potentially allow for earlier identification of those who will benefit from targeted interventions.
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spelling doaj.art-6ff1451ee347490d853d1f89628c120a2023-10-12T01:52:33ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242023-11-01910.1192/bjo.2023.580Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK BiobankNicola Warren0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0805-1182Stuart Leske1Urska Arnautovska2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7780-8441Korinne Northwood3Steve Kisely4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4021-2924Dan Siskind5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2072-9216Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, AustraliaFaculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Service, Metro South Health, Brisbane, AustraliaBackground Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with significant morbidity. Frailty combines biological ageing, comorbidity and psychosocial factors and can predict adverse health outcomes. Emerging evidence indicates that frailty is higher in individuals with SMI than in the general population, although studies have been limited by sample size. Aims To describe the prevalence of frailty in people with SMI in a large cohort using three different frailty measures and examine the impact of demographic and sociodemographic variables. Method The UK Biobank survey data, which included individuals aged 37–73 years from England, Scotland and Wales from 2006 to 2010, with linked in-patient hospital episodes, were utilised. The prevalence of frailty in individuals with and without SMI was assessed through three frailty measures: frailty index, physical frailty phenotype (PFP) and Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). Stratified analysis and dichotomous logistic regression were conducted. Results A frailty index could be calculated for 99.5% of the 502 412 UK Biobank participants and demonstrated greater prevalence of frailty in women and an increase with age. The prevalence of frailty for those with SMI was 3.19% (95% CI 3.0–3.4), 4.2% (95% CI 3.8–4.7) and 18% (95% CI 15–23) using the frailty index, PFP and HFRS respectively. The prevalence ratio was between 3 and 18 times higher than in those without SMI. Conclusions As a measure, frailty captures the known increase in morbidity associated with SMI and may potentially allow for earlier identification of those who will benefit from targeted interventions. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300580X/type/journal_articleFrailtyschizophreniabipolardepressionsevere mental illness
spellingShingle Nicola Warren
Stuart Leske
Urska Arnautovska
Korinne Northwood
Steve Kisely
Dan Siskind
Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
BJPsych Open
Frailty
schizophrenia
bipolar
depression
severe mental illness
title Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
title_full Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
title_fullStr Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
title_short Prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness: findings from the UK Biobank
title_sort prevalence of frailty in severe mental illness findings from the uk biobank
topic Frailty
schizophrenia
bipolar
depression
severe mental illness
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S205647242300580X/type/journal_article
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AT korinnenorthwood prevalenceoffrailtyinseverementalillnessfindingsfromtheukbiobank
AT stevekisely prevalenceoffrailtyinseverementalillnessfindingsfromtheukbiobank
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