Li Yaya, Godai Kayo, Kido Michiko, Komori Susumu, Shima Ryoichi, Kamide Kei, Kabayama Mai
Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565- 0871, Japan.
Health and Welfare Center, Toyono Town, 563-0103, Osaka, Japan.
BMC Geriatr. 2025 Mar 28;25(1):207. doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-05708-z.
Internet use is increasing among older adults worldwide, raising interest in its potential empowering effects on healthy aging. However, the relationship between internet use and frailty among older adults remains underexplored.
We conducted a postal survey between February and March 2021 in Osaka, Japan. The survey included 1,288 respondents aged ≥ 65 years, yielding a response rate of 71.6%. Internet use patterns were divided based on the frequencies of 8 internet use activities using a k-means cluster analysis. Frailty was assessed using the Japanese Kihon Checklist with a cut-off score of ≥ 8 defining a frail status. Covariates included age, sex, living alone, economic status, work, multimorbidity, smoking, and physical activity. We employed logistic regression models to investigate the associations. Stratified analyses were also conducted by sex and age (65-74 years, ≥ 75 years).
After excluding individuals with incomplete data on internet use or long-term care users or living a nursing home, we analyzed 908 participants (45.42% female, average age 73.74 years, 25.37% frail). The K-means cluster analysis identified three internet use patterns: "less use" (n = 478), "social use" (n = 261), and "functional use" (n = 169). Logistic regressions with less use as a reference showed a negative relationship between social use and frailty (adjusted OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35-0.84). The stratified analysis revealed significant relationships between social use and frailty only in males aged 65-74 years and females ≥ 75 years. A relationship was not observed between functional use and frailty.
We confirmed the segmentation of internet use patterns and its associations with frailty in older populations, noting age-sex differences. The heterogeneity in the association between internet use and frailty provides evidence for the incorporation of digital technology into health care for older adults, highlighting its role in enhancing social interaction. These findings are cross-sectional, which limits causal inference. Further longitudinal study is needed.
全球范围内，老年人的互联网使用正在增加，这引发了人们对其对健康老龄化潜在赋能作用的兴趣。然而，老年人互联网使用与衰弱之间的关系仍未得到充分探索。
2021年2月至3月期间，我们在日本大阪进行了一项邮寄调查。该调查包括1288名年龄≥65岁的受访者，回复率为71.6%。使用k均值聚类分析，根据8种互联网使用活动的频率对互联网使用模式进行划分。使用日本简易检查表评估衰弱情况，临界值≥8定义为衰弱状态。协变量包括年龄、性别、独居、经济状况、工作、多种疾病、吸烟和身体活动。我们采用逻辑回归模型来研究这些关联。还按性别和年龄（65 - 74岁、≥75岁）进行了分层分析。
在排除互联网使用数据不完整的个体、长期护理使用者或住在养老院的个体后，我们分析了908名参与者（女性占45.42%，平均年龄73.74岁，25.37%为衰弱者）。k均值聚类分析确定了三种互联网使用模式：“较少使用”（n = 478）、“社交使用”（n = 261）和“功能使用”（n = 169）。以较少使用为参照的逻辑回归显示，社交使用与衰弱之间存在负相关（调整后的比值比，0.54；95%置信区间，0.35 - 0.84）。分层分析显示，仅在65 - 74岁的男性和≥75岁的女性中，社交使用与衰弱之间存在显著关联。未观察到功能使用与衰弱之间的关系。
我们证实了老年人群体中互联网使用模式的细分及其与衰弱的关联，注意到了年龄 - 性别差异。互联网使用与衰弱之间关联的异质性为将数字技术纳入老年人医疗保健提供了证据，突出了其在增强社会互动方面的作用。这些发现是横断面研究，这限制了因果推断。需要进一步的纵向研究。
