Distinguishing Comorbidity, Disability, and Frailty

Sara E. Espinoza, Myla Quiben, Helen P. Hazuda

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Over half of the older adults in the USA have multimorbidity, defined broadly as the presence of two or more chronic diseases in an individual. Multimorbidity has significant overlap with disability and frailty. In this review, we broadly review the concepts of multimorbidity, disability, and frailty, as well as their interrelationships, and ability to predict future adverse health outcomes in older adults. Recent Findings: Depending on the study, the prevalence of individuals with all three of multimorbidity, disability, and frailty ranges from 2 to 20%. Multimorbidity and patterns of multimorbidity are predictive of functional limitations, disability, health care usage, and mortality. The degree to which multimorbidity predicts these outcomes depends on many factors but partly upon the population examined and the presence of frailty and disability. Summary: Multimorbidity is an emerging public health concern that is observed with and predictive of disability and frailty.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)201-209
Number of pages9
JournalCurrent Geriatrics Reports
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2018

Keywords

  • Comorbidity
  • Disability
  • Frailty
  • Geriatric syndrome
  • Multimorbidity
  • Older adults

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