Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis
Abstract Background Cognitive frailty is defined through a combination of physical frailty and cognitive impairment and is a growing concern in rheumatology. Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong disease, and the disease itself and the side effects of drug treatments may cause frailty. This study asses...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43166-025-00310-y |
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| author | Rahma A. Elziaty Radwa M. Salah Salma A. Khalil Ahmed A. Khalifa |
| author_facet | Rahma A. Elziaty Radwa M. Salah Salma A. Khalil Ahmed A. Khalifa |
| author_sort | Rahma A. Elziaty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cognitive frailty is defined through a combination of physical frailty and cognitive impairment and is a growing concern in rheumatology. Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong disease, and the disease itself and the side effects of drug treatments may cause frailty. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for cognitive frailty and falls in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Results A cross-sectional study involving 105 rheumatoid arthritis patients (aged 60 and older) was performed. Each participant received a comprehensive medical history review. The Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Frail Scale were assessed. Sixty-one patients (58.1%) exhibited mild cognitive impairment. Forty-eight (45.7%) were categorized as frail. Among the frail patients, 41 (85.4%) showed mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive frailty was observed in 41 patients (39%). Compared to prefrail patients, frail patients were older (mean age 68.98 ± 4.01 vs 63.54 ± 2.63; p < 0.0001), had a longer disease duration (33.00 ± 6.05 vs 26.77 ± 5.29; p < 0.0001), displayed higher disease activity (median SDAI 24 vs 10; p < 0.0001), and experienced a greater number of falls (2 vs 0; p < 0.0001). Conclusion Cognitive frailty is prevalent in RA patients. Age, level of education, disease duration, and disease severity are significant risk factors for frailty and cognitive impairment. RA patients who are frail are more prone to falls and therefore have a higher incidence of morbidity and adverse events. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d6aca763ee3433db2d339241f59953f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-3235 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d6aca763ee3433db2d339241f59953f2025-08-20T01:57:51ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation2090-32352025-03-015211510.1186/s43166-025-00310-yCognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritisRahma A. Elziaty0Radwa M. Salah1Salma A. Khalil2Ahmed A. Khalifa3Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams UniversityDepartment of Geriatrics and Gerontology Medicine, Ain Shams UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Background Cognitive frailty is defined through a combination of physical frailty and cognitive impairment and is a growing concern in rheumatology. Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong disease, and the disease itself and the side effects of drug treatments may cause frailty. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for cognitive frailty and falls in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Results A cross-sectional study involving 105 rheumatoid arthritis patients (aged 60 and older) was performed. Each participant received a comprehensive medical history review. The Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Frail Scale were assessed. Sixty-one patients (58.1%) exhibited mild cognitive impairment. Forty-eight (45.7%) were categorized as frail. Among the frail patients, 41 (85.4%) showed mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive frailty was observed in 41 patients (39%). Compared to prefrail patients, frail patients were older (mean age 68.98 ± 4.01 vs 63.54 ± 2.63; p < 0.0001), had a longer disease duration (33.00 ± 6.05 vs 26.77 ± 5.29; p < 0.0001), displayed higher disease activity (median SDAI 24 vs 10; p < 0.0001), and experienced a greater number of falls (2 vs 0; p < 0.0001). Conclusion Cognitive frailty is prevalent in RA patients. Age, level of education, disease duration, and disease severity are significant risk factors for frailty and cognitive impairment. RA patients who are frail are more prone to falls and therefore have a higher incidence of morbidity and adverse events.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43166-025-00310-yRheumatoid arthritisFrailtyCognitive impairmentMontreal Cognitive AssessmentFrail Scale |
| spellingShingle | Rahma A. Elziaty Radwa M. Salah Salma A. Khalil Ahmed A. Khalifa Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Rheumatoid arthritis Frailty Cognitive impairment Montreal Cognitive Assessment Frail Scale |
| title | Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_full | Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_short | Cognitive frailty and falls among Egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_sort | cognitive frailty and falls among egyptian older adults with rheumatoid arthritis |
| topic | Rheumatoid arthritis Frailty Cognitive impairment Montreal Cognitive Assessment Frail Scale |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43166-025-00310-y |
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