Objective: This study aimed to explore the relation between bone
mineral density (BMD), inflammation, coronary risk factors, and Insulin growth factor (IGF) in frail elderly. Design: A casecontrol
study. Setting: Ain Shams University Hospital Cairo, Egypt. Participants:
Ninety aged 60 years and above; sixty frail (30 males and 30 females; mean age
70.03 ± 8.10) and thirty matched controls (15 males and 15 females; mean age
69.07 ± 5.93). Measurements: History, examination, comprehensive geriatric assessment,
measurement of BMD, and laboratory investigations including; high sensitivity
C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) glycated haemoglobin, IGF, lowdensity
lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and
triglycerides. Results: The frail group had significantly lower levels of triglycerides and LDL, hs-CRP
and glycated haemoglobin levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001), and
BMD and IGF levels were significantly lower when compared with the control
group (P < 0.00*, P = 0.05) respectively. We also found that BMD
had a significant positive linear correlation with IGF and negative correlation
with age. Conclusion: Frailty was associated with low BMD, lower triglycerides & LDL
levels, and higher hsCRP levels. A borderline significance was found between
IGF levels and frailty. A positive correlation was found between BMD and IGF
in frail.