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Abstract

Background: Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome associated with diminished physiological reserves. These changes increase frailty and vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of frailty and risk factors of frailty including nutritional status, risk of falls, and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with community-dwelling older adults in in Mae Chai Sub-District, Phayao Province, Northern Thailand. A questionnaire collected data from 384 older adults aged 60 or above. Nutritional status from a mini-nutritional assessment (MNA), fear of falling (FOF), QoL, and frailty were also recorded.

Results: The prevalence of non-frail, pre-frail, and frail older adults was 24.2%, 66.7%, and 9.1%, respectively. In multinomial logistic regression analysis comparing the odds of frailty compared to non-frailty, the factors associated with frailty were age 70 years and older (odds ratio (OR) = 3.07; 95% CI: 1.27–7.41), underweight body mass index (BMI) (OR = 6.79; 95% CI: 1.49–30.93), a history of at least one fall in the previous year (OR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.20–7.24), diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.12–7.10), malnourished and at risk of malnutrition according to the MNA (OR 5.33; 95% CI: 2.30–12.39), moderate and high levels of FOF (OR 4.09; 95% CI: 1.62–10.28), and a moderate level of QoL (OR 4.06 (95% CI: 1.79–9.20).

Conclusion: Concerned agencies should strive further to identify frailty in older adults; they should also use appropriate interventions to prevent and reduce the likelihood of frailty.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Falls, Quality of life, Frailty, Older adults

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