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Metabolic syndrome duration and risk of frailty among midlife women: the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is associated with frailty in older adults, with few data among midlife women. We examined MetSyn, including duration, for associations with the development of prefrailty and frailty. METHODS: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation is a multiethnic, longitudinal cohort study of women aged 42-52 years at the time of enrollment (1996-1997). MetSyn was measured longitudinally, using ATP III criteria, starting at baseline. Pre-frailty and frailty were measured at two later visits (2012/13 and 2015/16) using Fried criteria. Associations of pre-frailty and frailty with prevalent MetSyn, the cumulative number of prior visits with MetSyn, and individual MetSyn criteria were examined using multivariable models. RESULTS: A total of 1769 women were included (mean age 59.7 years, SD 3.3). The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for having pre-frailty or frailty in women with MetSyn compared to those without were 2.77 (95% CI, 2.19-3.50) and 8.73 (95% CI, 5.89-12.95), respectively. Each additional visit a woman met criteria for MetSyn was associated with a higher odds of pre-frailty and frailty (aOR 1.20; 95% CI: 1.14-1.26, and aOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.33-1.50, respectively). Individual MetSyn criteria were also associated with the risk of frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Among women in this multiethnic cohort, MetSyn was common during midlife and strongly associated with future development of pre-frailty and frailty while women were in their early 60s. Measurement of MetSyn during midlife can help identify women at high risk for developing frailty early in the aging process.
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glag058
Authors: Elizabeth A Jackson, Carrie A Karvonen-Gutierrez, Maria M Brooks, Elsa Strotmeyer, Brittney S Lange-Maia, Daniel H Solomon, Michelle M Hood, Carol A Derby
Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Medicine, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, Rush University Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1078949291, G1090129799, G1104801629, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) V: UCLA Site, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) V: Chicago site, G1650445419, MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION IN BLACK AND WHITE WOMEN, G1796344600, G212551621, G2137320162, G2445185886, G2886598935, G3185656352, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) V: Coordinating Center, G3262555251, G3654623655, The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN): The Impact of Midlife and the Menopause Transition on Health and Functioning in Early Old Age, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) V: Central Laboratory, G4310344263, GYNECOLOGIC IMPACT OF THE MENOPAUSAL TRANSITION, G4492651742, G4649022000, G5299499115, G5342059961, G5421556210, G5445786059, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation IV: UC Davis site, G6665133860, G6802717753, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN V): Michigan Site, G7005230341, G7183445854, G7907450062, G8012083396, Study of Women's Health Across the Nation(SWAN) V: Pittsburgh, G8772865444, G9000166516, G9000173966, G9000284152, G9000334687, G987093159
OpenAlex ID: W7136752174
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