Effect of leisure activity on frailty trajectories among Chinese older adults: a 16-year longitudinal study

Abstract

Background While the significant association between leisure activities and frailty risk among older adults is well-established, the impact of integrated leisure activity scores and different categories of them on frailty trajectories over time remains unclear. Methods This study utilized longitudinal data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), which enrolled participants aged 65 years and older between 2002 and 2018. Frailty trajectories were derived using group-based trajectory modelling, and based on these trajectories, subjects were classified into various categories. Leisure activity was measured by integrated scores as well as three distinct categories: physically, cognitively, and socially stimulating activity. The effect of leisure activity on frailty trajectories was examined using multinomial logistic regression. Results By analysing data from 2,299 older adults, three frailty trajectories were identified: non-frail, moderate progressive, and high progressive. The results indicated that an increase in the score of integrated leisure activity was associated with 11% (odds ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.85–0.93) and 14% (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.80–0.91) decrease in the likelihood of being in the moderate and high progressive frailty trajectories, respectively. Engaging in physically stimulating activity lowered the odds of belonging to the moderate and high progressive trajectory by 43% (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.40–0.81; OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.36–0.92, respectively). Participation in socially stimulating activity showed a lower odd of being in the moderate progressive trajectory (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.49–0.93) and the high progressive trajectory (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39–0.95). The effects of leisure activities on frailty trajectories were observed not to vary by age, education level and retirement status. Conclusions This study suggests that older adults should be encouraged to increase both the amount and variety of their leisure activities. Physically stimulating activities should be considered the primary choice, followed by socially and cognitively stimulating activities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-024-05370-x.