Abstract
Objective: We examined the association between frailty and disability in rural community-dwelling older adults in Kegalle district of Sri Lanka.
Design: A population-based cross-sectional study.
Participants: A total of 746 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Frailty was assessed using the Fried phenotype. Disability was operationalised in terms of having one or more activity limitation/s in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL).
Results: The median age of the sample was (median 68; IQR 64–75) years and 56.7% were female. 15.2% were frail and 48.5% were prefrail. The prevalence of ≥1 IADL limitations was high, 84.4% among frail adults. 38.7% of frail adults reported ≥1 BADL limitations. Over half of frail older adults (58.3%) reported both ≥1 physical and cognitive IADL limitations. Being frail decreased the odds of having no IADL limitations, and was associated with a higher count of IADL limitations. No significant association was found between prefrailty and number of IADL limitations.
Conclusions: The prevalence of ≥1 IADL limitations was high among rural community-dwelling frail older adults. Findings imply the greater support and care required for rural Sri Lankan frail older adults to live independently in the community.
Design: A population-based cross-sectional study.
Participants: A total of 746 community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: Frailty was assessed using the Fried phenotype. Disability was operationalised in terms of having one or more activity limitation/s in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL).
Results: The median age of the sample was (median 68; IQR 64–75) years and 56.7% were female. 15.2% were frail and 48.5% were prefrail. The prevalence of ≥1 IADL limitations was high, 84.4% among frail adults. 38.7% of frail adults reported ≥1 BADL limitations. Over half of frail older adults (58.3%) reported both ≥1 physical and cognitive IADL limitations. Being frail decreased the odds of having no IADL limitations, and was associated with a higher count of IADL limitations. No significant association was found between prefrailty and number of IADL limitations.
Conclusions: The prevalence of ≥1 IADL limitations was high among rural community-dwelling frail older adults. Findings imply the greater support and care required for rural Sri Lankan frail older adults to live independently in the community.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e034189 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Mar 2020 |