Association of routine blood and biochemical indicators with frailty among people aged 80 years and older in China

A multifactorial generalized mixed-effects model was performed to analyze the association between routine blood, biochemical indicators, and frailty.Results Among the 3,222 observation records, 2,103 cases (65.3%) were classified as frail, while 1,119 cases (34.7%) were non-frail. The results of the multifactorial generalized mixed-effects analysis, after adjusting for covariates, showed that an increase in plasma total cholesterol (OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.01~1.26), blood glucose (OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.03~1.22), blood urea nitrogen (OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.01~1.22), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.05~1.27), and malondialdehyde (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.07~1.28) levels were positively associated with an increased risk of frailty in the elderly population.

Conversely, a decrease in red blood cell count (OR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.76~0.95) and blood creatinine levels (OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.70~0.88) was associated with an increased risk of frailty in the elderly.Conclusion Plasma total cholesterol, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and malondialdehyde levels were positively correlated with frailty in the elderly Chinese population, while red blood cell count and blood creatinine levels were negatively correlated with frailty.