Effect of Physical Activity on Frailty
Authors: Andrea Trombetti, Mélany Hars, Marco Pahor, Mary M. McDermott, Roger A. Fielding
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018)

Letters21 August 2018Effect of Physical Activity on FrailtyAndrea Trombetti, MD, Mélany Hars, PhD, Marco Pahor, MD, Mary M. McDermott, MD, and Roger A. Fielding, PhDAndrea Trombetti, MDGeneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland (A.T., M.H.), Mélany Hars, PhDGeneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland (A.T., M.H.), Marco Pahor, MDUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (M.P.), Mary M. McDermott, MDNorthwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (M.M.M.), and Roger A. Fielding, PhDTufts University, Boston, Massachusetts (R.A.F.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L18-0243 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We thank Dr. Ertle for sharing his personal experience, which gives us the opportunity to highlight some key messages.First, frailty is not an inevitable part of aging; not all older adults become frail and vulnerable. Frailty is a distinct health state characterized by decreased physiologic reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors (such as falls and illness) that independently increases the risk for poor outcomes, including disability and death (1, 2). Approximately 25% of persons older than 85 years are frail (3, 4). It seems that Dr. Ertle's parents were robust and not frail. As health care providers, ...References1. Clegg A, Young J, Iliffe S, Rikkert MO, Rockwood K. Frailty in elderly people. Lancet. 2013;381:752-62. [PMID: 23395245] doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62167-9 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Brown RT, Covinsky KE. Frailty as an outcome in geriatrics research: not ready for prime time? Ann Intern Med. 2018;168:361-2. [PMID: 29310132]. doi:10.7326/M17-3048 LinkGoogle Scholar3. Santos-Eggimann B, Cuénoud P, Spagnoli J, Junod J. Prevalence of frailty in middle-aged and older community-dwelling Europeans living in 10 countries. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009;64:675-81. [PMID: 19276189] doi:10.1093/gerona/glp012 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Collard RM, Boter H, Schoevers RA, Oude Voshaar RC. Prevalence of frailty in community-dwelling older persons: a systematic review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012;60:1487-92. [PMID: 22881367] doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04054.x CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Pahor M, Guralnik JM, Ambrosius WT, Blair S, Bonds DE, Church TS, et al; LIFE study investigators. Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of major mobility disability in older adults: the LIFE study randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;311:2387-96. [PMID: 24866862] doi:10.1001/jama.2014.5616 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland (A.T., M.H.)University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (M.P.)Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (M.M.M.)Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts (R.A.F.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M16-2011. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEffect of Physical Activity on Frailty Andrea Trombetti , Mélany Hars , Fang-Chi Hsu , Kieran F. Reid , Timothy S. Church , Thomas M. Gill , Abby C. King , Christine K. Liu , Todd M. Manini , Mary M. McDermott , Anne B. Newman , W. Jack Rejeski , Jack M. Guralnik , Marco Pahor , Roger A. Fielding , and Effect of Physical Activity on Frailty Alan R. Ertle Metrics 21 August 2018Volume 169, Issue 4Page: 267KeywordsDisabilitiesDisclosureElderlyExerciseFrailtyHealth care providersPhysical activityQuality of lifeSkeletal musclesWalking ePublished: 21 August 2018 Issue Published: 21 August 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2018 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...