Should Kuwait join global epidemiological research for older people?

Objectives: The study was undertaken to i) review the current status on ageing research in Kuwait and the Middle Eastern countries at large; ii) synthesize results of published literature on aging, frailty and related health issues; and iii) identify gaps, highlight the current need and future agenda for ageing research in Kuwait. Design: We performed a scoping literature review on Medline (via Ovid) to identify key papers that specifically studied older populations (aged >= 60 years) in the Middle East region including the topics addressed in these studies. Setting: Middle East Region Subjects: Older people aged 60 years and above Intervention: Studies reporting older populations Main outcome: Synthesis of results on frailty and other age -related conditions published in journals originating from Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries. Results: We found that frailty research in the Middle East is not well developed, 41 out of 49 of the studies from the Middle East were cross sectional study design covering common conditions related to older age such as falls, depression, cognitive dysfunction (Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia), disability, physical activity, malnutrition, health related quality of life among elderly, polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing. Fewer studies were found covering frailty and ageing in Kuwait and other countries in the Arab World. Conclusion: There is a need for research in older population studies in Kuwait focusing on prevalence, determinants, and outcomes of physical and mental frailty.