Prevalence of frailty in rural community-dwelling older adults in Kegalle district of Sri Lanka: a population-based cross-sectional study

Objective

Our main objective was to describe the prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors of frailty and pre-frailty in rural community-dwelling older adults in Kegalle district of Sri Lanka.

Design

Community-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

The study was conducted in rural areas of Kegalle district in Sri Lanka.

Participants

A total of 746 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years were included in the study.

Results

The prevalence of frailty and pre-frailty in rural Kegalle district was 15.2% (95% CI 12.3% to 18.6%) and 48.5% (95% CI 43.8% to 53.2%), respectively. We found a strong association between age and both frailty and pre-frailty. There were strong associations between longest-held occupation and frailty and education level and pre-frailty.

Conclusions

The prevalence of frailty in this rural Sri Lankan older population was high compared with high-income and upper middle-income countries. The profile of health and social care services in Sri Lanka needs to address frailty and its consequences.

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