Gharib Masoud, Khalili Zahra, Papi Shahab, Rashedi Vahid
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Iranian Research Center on Aging, Department of Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Geriatr. 2025 Jul 31;25(1):568. doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-06221-z.
The global aging population is increasing rapidly, positioning frailty as a significant health concern among older adults. Despite its significance, data on the prevalence and determinants of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Iran remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of frailty and identify its associated factors among older adults attending primary healthcare centers in Sari, Iran, using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI).
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 individuals aged ≥ 60, selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using a structured demographic questionnaire and the TFI, which evaluates frailty across physical, psychological, and social domains. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate tests, and linear regression to identify significant predictors of frailty.
The overall prevalence of frailty was 54.9%. Advanced age (β = 0.14, p < 0.05), lower income (β = -0.10, p < 0.05), dissatisfaction with living environment (β = 0.16, p < 0.05), history of hospitalization (β = -0.10, p < 0.05), presence of comorbidities (β = -0.14, p < 0.05), experience of death of loved ones (β = -0.08, p < 0.05), severe illness (β = -0.09, p < 0.05), respiratory disease (β = -0.08, p < 0.05), digestive disease (β = -0.08, p < 0.05), joint disease (β = -0.25, p < 0.05), and lipid disorders (β = -0.08, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with higher frailty scores.
Frailty is highly prevalent among older adults in Sari and is associated with a complex interplay of demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. Given the modifiable nature of certain risk factors, targeted interventions focusing on social support, financial stability, and physical activity are essential to mitigate frailty and enhance the quality of life in Iran's aging population.
全球老年人口正在迅速增加，使虚弱成为老年人中一个重大的健康问题。尽管其具有重要意义，但关于伊朗社区居住老年人中虚弱的患病率和决定因素的数据仍然有限。本研究旨在使用蒂尔堡虚弱指标（TFI）评估伊朗萨里市初级医疗保健中心就诊的老年人中虚弱的患病率，并确定其相关因素。
通过多阶段抽样对368名年龄≥60岁的个体进行了一项横断面研究。使用结构化人口统计问卷和TFI收集数据，TFI在身体、心理和社会领域评估虚弱情况。统计分析包括描述性统计、双变量检验和线性回归，以确定虚弱的显著预测因素。
虚弱的总体患病率为54.9%。高龄（β = 0.14，p < 0.05）、低收入（β = -0.10，p < 0.05）、对生活环境不满意（β = 0.16，p < 0.05）、住院史（β = -0.10，p < 0.05）、存在合并症（β = -0.14，p < 0.05）、亲人死亡经历（β = -0.08，p < 0.05）、重病（β = -0.09，p < 0.05）、呼吸系统疾病（β = -0.08，p < 0.05）、消化系统疾病（β = -0.08，p < 0.05）、关节疾病（β = -0.25，p < 0.05）和脂质紊乱（β = -0.08，p < 0.05）与较高的虚弱评分显著相关。
虚弱在萨里市老年人中非常普遍，并且与人口统计学、社会经济和健康相关因素的复杂相互作用有关。鉴于某些风险因素具有可改变的性质，针对社会支持、经济稳定和体育活动的有针对性干预对于减轻伊朗老年人口的虚弱并提高其生活质量至关重要。
