Detail Cantuman

ACFS 2024
10th Asian Conference for Frailty and Sarcopenia
https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/sirirajmedj/index
Page 31

Background: The increasing burden of costs and out-
of-pocket expenses borne by older adults with frailty can be

a considerable challenge in efforts toward improving societal
health. This study estimated the cost of frailty for older adults
by employing cost of illness theory.
Methods: Four electronic databases were searched (without
any language or year restriction) for relevant articles from their
inception to April 2024. Studies investigating the cost of frailty
and prefrailty for older adults (aged ≥60 years) were included.
The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database
(CRD42024530953).
Results: A total of 51 studies were included. The findings
revealed that frailty significantly increased mean total costs
by US$3286.43 and US$4653.01 compared with the costs
for individuals with prefrailty and robustness, respectively.
The cost difference between the prefrailty and robust groups
was US$2729.66. The increases in indirect costs did not
significantly differ between the prefrailty and robust groups or
between the frailty and robust groups. The total cost by setting
was significantly increased in the frailty group relative to the
prefrailty and robust groups. The results stratified by continent
or region revealed that only the frailty and prefrailty groups in
North America experienced significant increases in total costs
relative to the robust group. However, in the Asia-Pacific region
and Europe, no significant results were noted.
Conclusion: This is the first meta-analysis to employ cost of
illness theory to investigate the cost of frailty. Our findings can
help providers of health-care services and professional workers
develop effective and comprehensive intervention plans and
services that can be provided for older adults with frailty.