Factors associated with frailty in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
Rafaela Soares Rech, Marina Martins Pereira Padovani, Nathalia Flores Oliveira and 3 others
PMID 35730871WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with neurodegenerative diseases and swallowing difficulties were significantly more likely to be frail.
However, those with cognitive alterations on the MMSE were less likely to be frail, a counterintuitive finding that requires cautious interpretation.
Key findings
01Oropharyngeal dysphagia was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of frailty in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
02Cognitive alterations detected by the MMSE were associated with a lower prevalence of frailty, contrary to typical expectations.
03Female sex was associated with a higher prevalence of frailty in the sample.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used a convenience sample from a single clinic, which limits generalizability. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality; it is unclear whether dysphagia leads to frailty or vice versa. The Edmonton Frail Scale was used for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, although it is primarily validated for the geriatric population. The counterintuitive finding regarding MMSE scores and frailty requires further investigation and may be influenced by the specific characteristics of the sample or the sensitivity of the screening tools.
Declared interests
The paper does not report any conflicts of interest or funding sources.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that cognitive impairment always correlates with increased frailty in this population. This study found the opposite for MMSE scores, suggesting the relationship is complex and not yet fully understood.