Association of frailty index with handgrip strength and biochemical parameters in geriatric patients

Frailty is a multidimensional syndrome in elderly individuals associated with a high risk of adverse outcomes. Identifying simple and accessible clinical and laboratory markers associated with frailty may help in its early recognition. The present study aimed to explore the association between frailty index, handgrip strength, and biochemical and inflammatory markers in geriatric patients. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 64 patients aged ≥ 65 years and attending a tertiary care hospital were included. Frailty was measured using a validated frailty index. Handgrip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer. Laboratory values such as hemoglobin, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were collected from the patients’ medical records. Comparisons between frailty groups were performed using non-parametric tests. Spearman’s correlation was used to assess the association between frailty index and other markers. Among the total participants, 50% were found to be robust/pre-frail, and 50% were frail. Handgrip strength was significantly different among frailty groups. The results showed lower handgrip strength in frail patients compared with robust/pre-frail patients. The differences were statistically significant (p = 0.006). There was a moderate positive correlation between the scores on the FI and levels of CRP in the serum (r = 0.387, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in levels of NLR and PLR in the different stages of frailty (p = 0.076 and p = 0.210, respectively). Albumin levels in the serum were inversely correlated, albeit not significantly, with scores on the FI (r=-0.218, p = 0.069).(R4). Frailty was common in this geriatric population and was associated with reduced muscle strength and increased levels of systemic inflammation, especially CRP.