Prediction of physiological state, cognition, sensory function, and biomarkers for frailty in patients aged 55 years or more with schizophrenia.
Hsiao-Chi Tsai, Li-Hui Wu, Shu-Fang Chang
PMID 37038658WHAT IT FOUND
In 183 patients with schizophrenia, frailty was linked to lower cognitive scores and use of a wheelchair or walker.
Nurses can assess these signs, but the study cannot show treatment changes.
Key findings
01Of 183 patients, 119 were pre-frail and 20 were frail.
02Frailty was associated with lower cognitive function scores and with wheelchair or walker use.
03Frailty was significantly associated with education, hospital stay, falls, anxiolytics or sleeping pills, cognition, and assistive equipment.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that any factor caused frailty. Participants were purposively sampled from a psychiatric institution in Taiwan, so the results may not apply to other settings. The frailty measure used the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures index, and the authors said its use in patients with schizophrenia may be limited. Many biochemical indices were not significantly associated with frailty, so the paper does not support a broad biomarker panel.
Declared interests
The funding information states support from Cardinal Tien Hospital and the National Science and Technology Council.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that cognitive training, stopping sedatives, or removing wheelchairs and walkers will reduce frailty. This was a cross-sectional study, so it only showed associations at a single time point.