Impact of Chronic Disease Control and Aging Psychology on Outcomes of Frailty-Sarcopenia Syndrome in Ambulatory Geriatric Patients

Impact of Chronic Disease Control and Aging Psychology on Outcomes of Frailty-Sarcopenia Syndrome in Ambulatory Geriatric Patients

Pursuant to our previous longitudinal study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02073370) in geriatric outpatients cooperated with the Department of Family Medicine, Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, National Taiwan University Hospital, this study will be conducted to examine the impacts of the specific co-morbidities and ageing psychology on the outcomes of frailty/sarcopenia syndrome. The thresholds of specific chronic disease will be reviewed after frailty being considered in the elderly with co-morbidity condition. In addition, the conceptual framework and corresponding measuring instrument of "mental frailty" will be expected developed.

Inclusion criteria : compatible one of following conditions

• functional decline in recent one year
• cognitive function decline
• depressive symptom
• mobility impairment
• fall in recent one year
• eating or feeding problems/weight loss
• co-morbid conditions≧5
• tracking by different physician ≧3 in recent half year
• polypharmacy≧8 in recent 3 months
• hospitalization ≧1 in recent one year
• emergency visits≧2 in recent one year
• aged ≧ 80

Exclusion criteria:

• non-ambulatory (bed-ridden) patients
• long-term residents at nursing homes
• patients with a life expectancy shorter than six months
• impairment in vision, hearing, or communicative ability
• making convenience of clinical evaluation during the study period impossible.