# Characterizing Frailty in Older Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Using a Sickle Cell Frailty Index (FI-SCD)

> **NIH NIH R03** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $161,000

## Abstract

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) are living longer than ever before. As the number of
older adults living with SCD grows, there is a greater need for data to determine the appropriate
care for this population. As individuals with SCD age, they demonstrate substantial and early
deterioration of multiple organ systems, which causes complications often seen in geriatric
populations, such as cardiopulmonary disease, sensory impairment, functional decline, and
cognitive impairment. Failure to recognize vulnerabilities and functional decline can lead to
disability, dependence in activities of daily living, and premature death. Frailty is a syndrome
characterized by decreased physiologic reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors that lead
to adverse outcomes. Individuals with SCD experience a variety of stressors, such as
hospitalizations for vasooclussive pain crises and organ damage; however, frailty has never been
defined in people with SCD. The long-term objective of this research is to understand frailty,
accelerated aging, functional decline in older adults with SCD and develop interventions to
ameliorate these issues. The purpose of this study is to characterize frailty in older adults with
SCD using a laboratory-based Sickle Cell Disease Frailty Index (FI-SCD) and a validated
measure of frailty, the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FP). To achieve these goals, the investigators
will determine the relationship between FI-SCD and FP in a single-center cross-sectional study
of 100 older adults with SCD (defined as age 40 and older). For the first aim, the investigators
developed a frailty index using routine laboratory variables associated with chronological aging
and mortality in SCD and geriatrics. A frailty index score will be calculated by taking the sum of
heath deficits and dividing that by the total number of variables evaluated. The investigators will
compare the FI-SCD to FP, using correlation coefficient and ROC curves to describe sensitivity
and specificity of FI-SCD for FP. For the second aim, investigators will identify factors associated
with frailty in older adults with SCD by comparing frailty scores to PROMIS Pain Intensity,
PROMIS Pain Interference, SCD genotype, SCD-complications, and non-SCD comorbidities.
Factors associated with FI-SCD and FP will be identified using canonical correlation. Developing
a frailty index for older adults with SCD will provide a method for early risk stratification of this
population and will create a framework for developing interventions to prevent frailty, improve
function, and reduce mortality. This research is consistent with the National Institute of Aging’s
mission of improving the health and well-being of older Americans through biomedical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10466983
- **Project number:** 5R03AG074054-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARITY IBILOLA OYEDEJI
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $161,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-08-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10466983

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10466983, Characterizing Frailty in Older Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Using a Sickle Cell Frailty Index (FI-SCD) (5R03AG074054-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10466983. Licensed CC0.

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