GERIATRIC FRAILTY SYNDROME: LITERATURE REVIEW

GERIATRIC FRAILTY SYNDROME: LITERATURE REVIEW Name: Course title: Professor: Institution: Date Due: Introduction This is a literature review that examines the relation of frailty to Osteoporosis, depression and social isolation in frailty patients. In this review, qualitative approach was used in finding common literature in a partial sampling of the related literature that dealt with research objectives. Literatures on Osteoporosis, depression and social isolation in relation to frailty condition, frailty were systematically reviewed. In addition, the relevant model and theory in this study was also examined. Most of the literature used in this study was accessed from peer-reviewed journals such as Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, Business Source Premier and Medline. These were identified from 2004 to 2013 and the reference list was pearled. The researcher extracted descriptive information on study populations, frailty research criteria, and outcomes from the selected papers, and quality rankings were assigned. Of the 1500 articles retrieved from the searches and 10 articles retrieved from the pearling, 10 of them met study inclusion criteria. In the 10 articles, the link between Osteoporosis, depression and social isolation to frailty were used to find out how the components are related with each other. The prevalence of frailty ranged from 5% to 58%. Once the articles were accessed, they were stratified with regard to the study variables. Afterwards, analysis of the main themes was conducted by employing counts of specific key terms. The results indicate a positive linkage between Osteoporosis, depression and social isolation to frailty. Conceptual Framework The conceptual framework of this study is outlined in figure 1.1 Figure 1.1 Conceptual Framework indicating the relation of frailty to depression, social isolation, and osteoporosis
As indicated in the figure, geriatric frailty is related with among other factors, depression, social isolation and osteoporosis. In other words, geriatric syndrome is the cause of social isolation, osteoporosis syndrome, and depression among the elderly. Studies such as those conducted by Taenzer and Melzack, (2008) found a positive relation between depression and frailty. People with this condition are likely to have poor attitudes concerning their own health. Depression could lead to low mobility and a persistent feeling of fatigue. In addition, it slows down the thinking process of these individuals. It is also the main cause of other illnesses such as myocardial infarction, anorexia and weight loss among the elderly. Osteoporosis is a disorder among the elderly that is caused by the frailty condition. This condition is related to the fragility of the structures that subsequently reduces daily activities of the patients as well as increasing the fracture risks. Consequently, the patient’s quality of life is subsequently hampered. As Srivastava et al (2002) observes, osteoporosis is a comm...