Understanding frailty among older people living in old age homes and the community in Nepal: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Frailty is a state of being vulnerable to adverse health outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability in older people. Identifying frailty is important in a low-income setting to prevent it from progressing, reducing healthcare costs, increasing the chances of reversibility, and implementing effective interventions. The factors affecting frailty in older people living in old age homes could differ from those living in the community. This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with frailty in older people residing in old age homes and communities in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from April to June 2019 in three districts of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Data were collected from 193 older people residing in old age homes and 501 residing in communities aged 60 and above using convenience sampling. Frailty was measured using the Groningen Frailty Indicator. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between independent variables and frailty. Results: Frailty was more prevalent among older people in old age homes (71.5%) compared to those in the community (56.3%). Older people who were satisfied with their living environment had lower frailty scores in both old age homes (β = -0.20, p