Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Gerontological Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing - Mansoura University
Abstract
Background: Frailty is a highly prevalent health problem in older adults that negatively impact health-related outcomes. The importance of studying frailty comes from the fact that it is merely associated with aging but not an inevitable process. Aim: To assess the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was used with a cluster sampling technique targeting 300 older adults in six urban and rural regions affiliated with the Dakahlia governorate. Data was collected using, Mini-mental State Examination, demographic and health-related data structured interview questionnaire, Katz and Akpom scale, Lawton and Brody scale, the Mini Nutritional Assessment questionnaire, and Frailty was measured using the survey of Health, and Aging, and Retirement in Europe of The Frailty Indicator. Results: The prevalence of frailty was 64.7% among the studied older adults. Age, current work, comorbidity, polypharmacy, dependence on the instrumental activity of daily living, and malnutrition were significant independent predictors for frailty (β 0.136, -0.148, 0.117, 0.118, -0.209, and 0.401 respectively), p < 0.05for all. Conclusion: Frailty was highly prevalent among community dwellers in Egypt's urban and rural regions. Female gender, widowhood, illiteracy, living arrangements, previous hospitalization, drug compliance, periodic checkup, engagement in social practices, and smoking. Moreover, Older adults' age, work status, income, comorbidities, polypharmacy, functional status, and nutritional status were found as the main factors associated with frailty. Recommendations: Assessment of associated risk factors of frailty in older adults should be done through community-based healthcare programs for early diagnosis and management.
Keywords
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