Objectives: Numerous studies have been performed on frailty, but rarely do studies explore the integrated impact of socio-demographic, behavioural and social support factors on frailty. This study aims to establish a comprehensive frailty risk prediction model including multiple risk factors. Methods: The 2018 wave of the Chinese Longevity and Health Longitudinal Survey was used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify the relationship between frailty and multiple risk factors and establish the frailty risk prediction model. A nomogram was utilized to illustrate the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Hosmer–Lemeshow test and calibration curve were used to appraise the prediction model. Results: Variables from socio-demographic, social support and behavioural dimensions were included in the final frailty risk prediction model. Risk factors include older age, working as professionals and technicians before 60 years old, poor economic condition and poor oral hygiene. Protective factors include eating rice as a staple food, regular exercise, having a spouse as the first person to share thoughts with, doing physical examination once a year and not needing a caregiver when ill. The AUC (0.881), Hosmer–Lemeshow test (p = 0.618), and calibration curve showed that the risk prediction model was valid. Conclusion: Risk factors from socio-demographic, behavioural and social support dimensions had a comprehensive effect on frailty, further supporting that a comprehensive and individualized intervention is necessary to prevent frailty.

BackgroundCurrently, longitudinal studies on frailty are in an early stage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Only one study was conducted in Hong Kong to examine age-period-cohort effects on the prevalence of frailty among Chinese older adults.ObjectivesThis study aims to shed light on the prevalence trajectory of frailty among older adults in mainland China through the APC model and to analyze the effects of age, period, and cohort on the prevalence trajectory.MethodsThe sample for this study was older adults aged 65–109 years old from the 2002 to 2014 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Frailty status was measured by Rockwood FI. An age-period-cohort model was used to describe the effects of age, period, and cohort on the prevalence trajectory of frailty.ResultsThe prevalence of frailty among Chinese older adults changed significantly with age, period, and cohort. Furthermore, the effect of age was much stronger than the effect of period and cohort. The prevalence of frailty in the 101–103 and 104–106 age groups was 8.998 (95% CI 13.667–5.924) and 8.699 (95% CI 13.037–5.805) times higher than the in the 65–67 age group, respectively. The sensitivity analysis based on Fried's frailty phenotype showed similar results, confirming the robustness of our findings.ConclusionAll of the age effect reflecting the individual aging process, period effect reflecting change in the social environment, and birth cohort effect reflecting different generations could influence the prevalence of frailty at the population level. In contrast, the age effect was the main effect.