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Journals / Hitit Medical Journal / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

Prevalence of Frailty and Associated Risk Factors in Geriatric Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Geriatrik İdame Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Kırılganlık Prevalansı ve İlişkili Risk Faktörleri: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Rıfat Bozkuş(ANKARA ETLİK ŞEHİR HASTANESİ, İÇ HASTALIKLARI KLİNİĞİ)0000-0003-1179-0653
Berivan Ganidağlı(Ankara Etlik Şehir Hastanesi, İç Hastalıkları Kliniği)0009-0008-9608-8583
Şeyma Sarışen(Ankara Etlik Şehir Hastanesi, İç Hastalıkları Kliniği)0009-0006-9096-2714
Ebru Gök Oğuz(Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Ankara Etlik Şehir Hastanesi, Nefroloji Anabilim Dalı)0000-0002-2606-3865
Pages
338–348
Publication Date
2026-06-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Our findings suggest that frailty screening should be incorporated into routine clinical assessment in this patients, and that interventions targeting modifiable risk factors are important.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome associated with adverse clinical outcomes.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional, observational study included a total of 419 geriatric individuals followed between April 15, 2024, and April 15, 2025.
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Conclusion & Impact:Our findings suggest that frailty screening should be incorporated into routine clinical assessment in this patients, and that interventions targeting modifiable risk factors are important.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Edmonton Kırılganlık Ölçeği · Geriatrik Hasta · Hemodiyaliz

Abstract

Aim: Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome associated with adverse clinical outcomes. In chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis treatment prolongs survival; however, it cannot completely prevent the development of complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of frailty in geriatric patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional, observational study included a total of 419 geriatric individuals followed between April 15, 2024, and April 15, 2025. Of the participants, 136 were chronic kidney disease patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis, and 283 comprised a control group without a history of chronic kidney disease. Frailty was assessed using the Edmonton Frail Scale. Results: The prevalence of frailty was higher in the maintenance hemodialysis group than in the control group (58.1% vs. 39.2%, p=0.001). Among maintenance hemodialysis patients, frail individuals were older and had a higher comorbidity burden, longer duration of chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis, higher risk of malnutrition, and more frequent polypharmacy compared with non-frail individuals (all p<0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, duration of chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis duration, and presence of malnutrition were identified as independent risk factors for frailty. Conclusion: Frailty is common in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. In this patient group, age, presence of malnutrition, and the duration of chronic kidney disease and hemodialysis are independent risk factors for frailty. Our findings suggest that frailty screening should be incorporated into routine clinical assessment in this patients, and that interventions targeting modifiable risk factors are important.

Özet

Amaç: Kırılganlık, olumsuz klinik sonuçlarla ilişkili önemli bir geriatrik sendromdur. Kronik böbrek hastalığında, hemodiyaliz tedavisi sağkalımı uzatır; ancak böbrek yetmezliğine bağlı komplikasyonların gelişimini tamamen engelleyemez. Bu çalışma, idame hemodiyaliz alan geriatrik hastalarda kırılganlık prevalansını belirlemeyi ve kırılganlıkla ilişkili risk faktörlerini saptamayı amaçlamıştır. Materyal ve Yöntem: Bu tek merkezli, kesitsel, gözlemsel çalışmaya, 15 Nisan 2024 ile 15 Nisan 2025 tarihleri arasında takip edilen toplam 419 geriatrik birey dahil edildi. Katılımcıların 136'sı idame hemodiyaliz tedavisi gören kronik böbrek hastalığı hastasıydı ve 283'ü kronik böbrek hastalığı öyküsü olmayan kontrol grubunu oluşturuyordu. Kırılganlık, Edmonton Kırılganlık Ölçeği kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Kırılganlık prevalansı idame hemodiyaliz grubunda kontrol grubuna göre daha yüksekti (%58,1’e karşı %39,2; p=0,001). İdame hemodiyaliz hastaları arasında kırılgan bireyler, kırılgan olmayanlara kıyasla daha yaşlıydı ve komorbidite yükü daha fazlaydı; ayrıca kronik böbrek hastalığında ve hemodiyaliz süreleri daha uzundu, malnütrisyon riski daha yüksekti ve polifarmasi daha sık görülmekteydi (tüm karşılaştırmalar için p<0,001). Çok değişkenli lojistik regresyon analizinde ise kronik böbrek hastalığı süresi, hemodiyaliz süresi ve malnütrisyon varlığı kırılganlık için bağımsız risk faktörleri olarak saptandı. Sonuç: Kırılganlık, idame hemodiyaliz alan hastalarda sık görülmektedir. Bu hasta grubunda yaş, malnütrisyon varlığı ile Kronik böbrek hastalığı ve hemodiyaliz süresi kırılganlık için bağımsız risk faktörleridir. Bulgularımız, bu hastalarda rutin klinik değerlendirmeye kırılganlık taramasının eklenmesi gerektiğini ve değiştirilebilir risk faktörlerine yönelik müdahalelerin önemli olduğunu göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Bozkuş, R., Ganidağlı, B., Sarışen, Ş., Oğuz, E. G. (2026). Prevalence of Frailty and Associated Risk Factors in Geriatric Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study. Hitit Medical Journal, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 338–348. https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1871425

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