Final published version
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
Approaches to therapy and prevention of frailty in the light of contemporary medicine. / Bujnowska-Fedak, Maria Magdalena; Waligóra, Joanna; D’Avanzo, Barbara et al.
In: Family Medicine and Primary Care Review, Vol. 19, No. 3, 01.09.2017, p. 289-297.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Approaches to therapy and prevention of frailty in the light of contemporary medicine
AU - Bujnowska-Fedak, Maria Magdalena
AU - Waligóra, Joanna
AU - D’Avanzo, Barbara
AU - Holland, Carol
AU - Kurpas, Donata
PY - 2017/9/1
Y1 - 2017/9/1
N2 - Over the last several decades, the growing number of patients with geriatric problems has become a serious challenge for primary care physicians. Frailty is an often encountered condition in older age. This is a state of increased vulnerability and loss of total physiological reserves, needed to maintain physiological and psychosocial homeostasis. Definition of physical frailty is based on the following criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed, and low physical activity, where 3 out of 5 these criteria confirms frailty. It is a dynamic, transitional process which constantly progresses, although it is potentially reversible. Frailty often co-exists with other severe diseases, affecting general well-being of the patient. Therefore, it is important for the family doctor to understand diagnosis and treatment to protect from an invasive procedure or potentially harmful medication, and prevent decline of functional independence. The aim of this review is to present current available treatment options and their effectiveness for frailty. Data from many observational studies were collected. The most beneficial seems to be combined multidisciplinary treatment including physical exercises, nutritional supplementation and cognitive training. Additionally, the further positive results of physical activity training on mobility, balance, coordination, muscle strength and reducing falls in frail elderly were also confirmed by many scientific reports. Pharmacological, nutritional, psychological and other interventions solely can also be helpful but the evidence is low. Preventive actions at many stages in the process leading to frailty can be applied.
AB - Over the last several decades, the growing number of patients with geriatric problems has become a serious challenge for primary care physicians. Frailty is an often encountered condition in older age. This is a state of increased vulnerability and loss of total physiological reserves, needed to maintain physiological and psychosocial homeostasis. Definition of physical frailty is based on the following criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed, and low physical activity, where 3 out of 5 these criteria confirms frailty. It is a dynamic, transitional process which constantly progresses, although it is potentially reversible. Frailty often co-exists with other severe diseases, affecting general well-being of the patient. Therefore, it is important for the family doctor to understand diagnosis and treatment to protect from an invasive procedure or potentially harmful medication, and prevent decline of functional independence. The aim of this review is to present current available treatment options and their effectiveness for frailty. Data from many observational studies were collected. The most beneficial seems to be combined multidisciplinary treatment including physical exercises, nutritional supplementation and cognitive training. Additionally, the further positive results of physical activity training on mobility, balance, coordination, muscle strength and reducing falls in frail elderly were also confirmed by many scientific reports. Pharmacological, nutritional, psychological and other interventions solely can also be helpful but the evidence is low. Preventive actions at many stages in the process leading to frailty can be applied.
KW - Aging
KW - Frailty
KW - Intervention
KW - Prevention
KW - Therapy
U2 - 10.5114/fmpcr.2017.69293
DO - 10.5114/fmpcr.2017.69293
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85030098366
VL - 19
SP - 289
EP - 297
JO - Family Medicine and Primary Care Review
JF - Family Medicine and Primary Care Review
SN - 1734-3402
IS - 3
ER -