Background A large number of studies have explored the association between frailty and mortality among COVID-19 patients, with inconsistent results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the evidence on this issue. Methods Three databases, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, from inception to 20th January 2021 were searched for relevant literature. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess quality bias, and STATA was employed to pool the effect size by a random effects model. Additionally, potential publication bias and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Fifteen studies were included, with a total of 23,944 COVID-19 patients, for quantitative analysis. Overall, the pooled prevalence of frailty was 51% (95% CI: 44–59%). Patients with frailty who were infected with COVID-19 had an increased risk of mortality compared to those without frailty, and the pooled hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) were 1.99 (95% CI: 1.66–2.38) and 2.48 (95% CI: 1.78–3.46), respectively. In addition, subgroup analysis based on population showed that the pooled ORs for hospitalized patients in eight studies and nursing home residents in two studies were 2.62 (95% CI: 1.68–4.07) and 2.09 (95% CI: 1.40–3.11), respectively. Subgroup analysis using the frailty assessment tool indicated that this association still existed when using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) (assessed in 6 studies, pooled OR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.52–5.45; assessed in 5 studies, pooled HR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.66–2.38) and other frailty tools (assessed in 4 studies, pooled OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.81–2.16). In addition, these significant positive associations still existed in the subgroup analysis based on study design and geographic region. Conclusion Our study indicates that frailty is an independent predictor of mortality among patients with COVID-19. Thus, frailty could be a prognostic factor for clinicians to stratify high-risk groups and remind doctors and nurses to perform early screening and corresponding interventions urgently needed to reduce mortality rates in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2.

BackgroundThe oldest old generally have worse health and more comorbidities than the general population of older adults, and they are more likely to be exposed to polypharmacy. Reliable investigation of polypharmacy among the oldest old (≥80 years of age) in China are lacking. So this study aims to describe the polypharmacy status of oldest old patients ≥80 years of age and to assess the factors influencing medication compliance.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 258 oldest old patients ≥ 80 years of age and hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Beijing between December 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. They completed three validated questionnaires to assess their pre-admission status (general demographics, medication knowledge, and medication adherence). Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) use was evaluated by physicians.ResultsThe majority of the patients (55.4%) took < 10 types of drugs. The numbers of drugs taken ranged from 8 to 60 drugs (median of 22.9). Patients taking 11–20 drugs accounted for 46.1% of the patients. Subjects with a history of adverse drug reactions accounted for 40.3%. The proportion of PIMs was 27.1%. Compliance was only 32.6% among the oldest old patients with polypharmacy. Age and medication classes were independently negatively associated with compliance, and medication knowledge was independently positively associated with compliance.ConclusionOldest old patients (≥ 80 years of age) had a poor medication knowledge. Age, medication classes, and medication knowledge were independently associated with medication compliance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-018-0754-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Few studies examined interventions in frail elderly in China, while the awareness of applying interventions to prevent frailty in pre-frail elderly is still lacking. This study aimed to explore the effects of lower limb resistance exercise in pre-frail elderly in China. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial of patients with pre-frailty. The control group received routine care, while the exercise group received a 12-week lower limb resistance exercise based on routine care. The muscle strength in the lower limbs, physical fitness, and energy metabolism of the patients was evaluated at admission and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results A total of 60 pre-frail elderly were included in this study. The patients were divided into the exercise group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) by random grouping. There were 17 men and 13 women aged 65.3 ± 13.4 in the exercise group, and 15 men and 15 women aged 67.6 ± 11.9 years in the control groups. The Barthel index was 80.3 ± 10.6 and 85.1 ± 11.6, respectively. The characteristics of the two groups were not significantly different before intervention (all p > 0.05). The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that there was statistically significant in crossover effect of group * time (all p < 0.05), that is, the differences of quadriceps femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, 8-ft “up & go” test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent between the intervention group and the control group changed with time, and the variation ranges were different. The main effects of time were statistically significant (all p < 0.05), namely, femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, 8-ft “up & go” test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent of the intervention group and the control group were significantly different before and after intervention. The main effects of groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05), namely, femoris muscle strength, 6-min walking test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, daily activity energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent before and after intervention were significantly different between the intervention group and the control group, while there was no significant differences in 8-ft “up & go” test between groups. Conclusion Lower limb resistance exercise used for the frailty intervention could improve muscle strength, physical fitness, and metabolism in pre-frail elderly. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR2000031099. Registered 22 March 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=51221&htm=4