Intrinsic Capacity and Its Association with Adverse Health Outcomes in Older Japanese Outpatients

Objectives

This study aimed to provide evidence regarding the clinical significance of assessing intrinsic capacity (IC).

Design

Longitudinal study.

Setting

Frailty clinic.

Participants

351 disability-free outpatients aged ≥65 years.

Measurements

Adverse health outcomes were a composite of adverse health outcomes, including mortality, emergency hospitalization, nursing home placement, and new certification or exacerbation for long-term care. We created a composite score based on five IC domains using assessment scales from the WHO ICOPE handbook, with the weights for each domain determined through confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

The composite score of IC was inversely associated with adverse health outcomes within 1-year; the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.20 (0.09–0.41) for the highest versus lowest tertile, and 0.63 (0.48–0.83) for each 1-point increment in IC score, respectively. Similar associations were observed for specific adverse health outcome, but not for mortality.

Conclusion

IC was inversely associated with subsequent adverse health outcomes in older outpatients, suggesting its prognostic value in routine geriatric practices. Considering the limited sample size, our findings need to be further confirmed.