A Community based Cross Sectional Study on Frailty and its Correlates among Elderly Population of Puducherry

Abstract

Background

Longevity and frailty have a significant role in healthcare and demand a surge surge risk of hospitalization. Though they get serious attention recently, it remained to be a unmeasured in rural areas. The present study aimed to analyse its prevalence among the rural population in Puducherry.

Materials and Methods

The present cross sectional and community based study was carried out between February 2019 to October 2019 in Puduchery district with approval of Institutional Ethics Committee. Lastly elderly individuals from each town and village are chosen by door to door visits after starting at a random household (n = 300). The questioner was based on the Tilburg frailty indicator, depression measurement and Normal cognitive function. The responses against the questioner was analysed by statistical methods. 

Results

The prevalence of frailty in our study population was 54.6% in which rural population 54% and urban population 55.3% females were more frail in both rural (33.3%) and urban population (30. 7%).There was significant association between education status, longest held job, living arrangement, unexpected events in last one year, comorbidity status, history of fall in last one year, fear of falling, activities of daily life, depression and cognitive status and frailty. The early identification of frailty in primary care settings helps to prevent them from becoming disabled as frailty can be reversible and prevent them from adverse outcomes.

Conclusion

The ethos of joint family needs to be regained so that family support can avoid depression in elderly which is again interrelated with frailty as elderly people are more vulnerable to adverse health outcomes.