This study aimed to identify frailty trajectories among older adults diagnosed with cancer, as well as the impacts of frailty trajectories on cognitive decline at an eight-year follow-up. We used longitudinal data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. A total of 173 older Korean cancer survivors were included in our analysis. Frailty and cognitive function were assessed using the multi-domain frailty index and the Korean version of the mini mental state examination, respectively. Latent class growth modeling and multivariate logistic regression were employed. Two distinct frailty trajectories were identified: "low and stable" (75.1%) and "moderate and increasing" (24.9%). Older cancer survivors in the "moderate and increasing" frailty group were 4.89 times more likely to experience cognitive decline at the eight-year follow-up than their counterparts in the "low and stable" frailty group. Periodic evaluation and timely management of frailty could contribute to preventing cognitive decline among older cancer survivors.
Keywords: Cancer survivors; Cognitive function; Frailty; Longitudinal; Older adults.
Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.