Investigating the Predictors of Frailty: An Age-Dependent Analysis

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the predictors of frailty in different age groups. To address this purpose, this study used the 2014 Survey of the Living Conditions of the Elderly (SLCE). In the research model, 4,123 older adults aged 75 and older were included from the SLCE. All participants were subdivided into two age groups based on their age; the young old group (75-85) and the old-old group (85+). The young old group consisted of 1,453 (43%) pre-frail older adults and 1,268 (37%) frail older adults; the old-old group consisted of 304 (40%) pre-frail older adults and 396 (52%) frail older adults. Our regression analysis showed that in the young-old, being female, lower levels of education, having more chronic diseases, having fall experience, higher depression, lower cognitive functioning significantly predicted transition to pre-frailty from non-frail status. In the old-old, being female, higher depression, lower level of social activity were significant predictors. On the other hand, predictors of transition to frailty from pre-frail status in the young-old were being female, higher age, being unemployed, having more chronic diseases, having fall experience, higher depression, lower cognitive functioning. In the old-old, predictors of transition to frailty from pre-frail status were only higher age, having more chronic disease, higher depression, and lower cognitive functioning. The research findings can be used as a reference point in the making of strategies for preventing frailty.