Factors Relating to Frailty among Community-Dwelling Elderly in Nam-Phrae subdistrict, Hangdong district, Chiang Mai Province
Keywords:
Frailty, Activities of Daily Living, Nutritional, Older adultsAbstract
Frailty is a significant health concern among older adults, serving as a primary contributor to adverse health outcomes such as falls, increased disease burden, functional decline, permanent disability, and diminished quality of life. This study employed a cross-sectional analytic design to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of frailty among older adults residing in Nam Phrae Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province. A total of 349 participants were selected through simple random sampling using the official registry of older adults. Data were collected using the elderly health screening and assessment form of the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze general characteristics and frailty prevalence, while binary logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with frailty.
The study found that The majority of participants were female (63.69%), with a mean age of 68.37 years. The prevalence of frailty was found to be 5.9%. Two factors were significantly associated with frailty: Functional ability: Older adults with partial independence in daily activities were 7.80 times more likely to be frail (95% CI = 1.207–50.132, p = 0.031). Nutritional status: Those at risk of malnutrition were 4.20 times more likely to be frail (95% CI = 1.317–13.382, p = 0.015).
These findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to enhance physical strength—particularly muscle function—and nutritional support to mitigate frailty and improve overall health outcomes in older populations.
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