Prevalence and associated factors of frailty among community dweller older adults living in Gondar town, northwest, Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric condition that increases vulnerability to stressors, increases the risk of negative health outcomes, and lowers quality of life in older people. However, little attention has been paid to frailty in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of frailty syndrome and the sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with it. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from April to June 2022. A total of 607 study participants were included using a single cluster sampling technique. The Tilburg frailty indicator, which is a self-reported schedule for assessment of frailty, required respondents to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and the total attainable score ranged from 0 to 15. An individual with a score of ≥ 5 considered frail. Data were collected by interviewing the participants using a structured questionnaire, and the data collection tools were pre-tested before the actual data collection period to check for the accuracy of responses, language clarity, and appropriateness of the tools. Statistical analyses were performed using the binary logistic regression model. Results More than half of the study participants were male, and the median age of the study participants was 70, with an age range of 60–95 years. The prevalence of frailty was 39% (CI 95%, 35.51–43.1). In the final multivariate analysis model, the following factors associated with frailty were obtained: older age (AOR = 6.26 CI (3.41–11.48), presence of two or more comorbidities (AOR = 6.05 CI (3.51–10.43), activity of daily life dependency (AOR = 4.12 CI (2.49–6.80), and depression (AOR = 2.68 CI (1.55–4.63) were found to be significant factors. Conclusion and recommendations Our study provides epidemiological characteristics and the risk factors of frailty in the study area. Efforts to promote physical, psychological, and social health in older adults are a core objective of health policy, especially for older adults aged 80 and above years, and those with two or more comorbidities.

Burden and factors influencing intestinal parasitic infections among food handlers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The city is found in the Amhara regional state, approximately 747 kilometers to the northwest of Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia) and 182 kilometers from Bahir Dar. According to the Central Statistical Agency’s 2017 population projection, the city’s total population hovers around 360,600, with roughly 176,593 being males ( 36 , 37 ). The city is administratively divided into 24 ‘kebeles,’ the smallest administrative units.…”

Measuring the effects of nurse-led frailty intervention on community-dwelling older people in Ethiopia: a quasi-experimental study

“…In these areas, the primary source of care and support comes from community nurses, who play a pivotal role in their well-being. Recent research in Ethiopia revealed that a notable 39% of the senior residents in these community settings were identified as frail [24]. This high incidence of frailty among Ethiopia's older people highlights an urgent requirement for interventions and support systems to improve their health and quality of life.…”