Identifying the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail people: a cross-sectional analysis from UK Biobank

Chu, W., Lynskey, N., Iain-Ross, J., Pell, J. P. , Sattar, N. , Ho, F. K., Welsh, P. , Celis-Morales, C. and Petermann-Rocha, F. (2023) Identifying the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail people: a cross-sectional analysis from UK Biobank. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2421. (doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032421) (PMID:36767787) (PMCID:PMC9915970)

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail adults in the UK Biobank cohort by sex. Methods: In total, 202,537 participants (67.8% women, aged 37 to 73 years) were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Further, 31 biomarkers were investigated in this study. Frailty was defined using a modified version of the Frailty Phenotype. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the biomarker profile of pre-frail and frail individuals categorized by sex. Results: Lower concentrations of apoA1, total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol, albumin, eGFRcys, vitamin D, total bilirubin, apoB, and testosterone (differences ranged from −0.30 to −0.02 per 1-SD change), as well as higher concentrations of triglycerides, GGT, cystatin C, CRP, ALP, and phosphate (differences ranged from 0.01 to 0.53 per 1-SD change), were identified both in pre-frail and frail men and women. However, some of the associations differed by sex. For instance, higher rheumatoid factor and urate concentrations were identified in pre-frail and frail women, while lower calcium, total protein, and IGF-1 concentrations were identified in pre-frail women and frail women and men. When the analyses were further adjusted for CRP, similar results were found. Conclusions: Several biomarkers were linked to pre-frailty and frailty. Nonetheless, some of the associations differed by sex. Our findings contribute to a broader understanding of the pathophysiology of frailty as currently defined.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: UK Biobank was established by the Wellcome Trust medical charity, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Scottish Government and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. It has also had funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Heart Foundation.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Celis, Dr Carlos and Pell, Professor Jill and Ho, Dr Frederick and Petermann-Rocha, Mrs Fanny and Welsh, Professor Paul and Sattar, Professor Naveed
• Authors: Chu, W., Lynskey, N., Iain-Ross, J., Pell, J. P., Sattar, N., Ho, F. K., Welsh, P., Celis-Morales, C., and Petermann-Rocha, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1661-7827
• ISSN (Online): 1660-4601
• Published Online: 29 January 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(3): 2421
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License