<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0027_s_006">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>Frailty is recognized as one of the most important global health challenges as the population is aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence and incidence of frailty, and associated factors, among the population of older adults in Slovenia compared to other European countries.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0027_s_007">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>The prevalence and 4-year incidence of frailty among older adults (≥65 years) were evaluated using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Frailty was defined by the SHARE operationalization of Frailty phenotype. Multiple logistic regression model was used to explore factors associated with frailty.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0027_s_008">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Age-standardized prevalence (95% CI) of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 14.9% (13.3-16.5) and 42.5% (39.8-45.2), respectively. Factors (OR, 95% CI) associated with increased frailty in Slovenia included age (7584 years: 5.03 (3.08-8.22); ≥85 years 21.7 (10.6-44.7) vs. 65-74 years), self-rated health (fair: 4.58 (2.75-7.61), poor: 54.6 (28.1-105.9) vs. excellent/very good/good), number of chronic diseases (1.20 (1.03-1.40)), and polypharmacy (yes: 3.25 (1.93-5.48) vs. no). Female gender and lower education were significantly associated with pre-frailty, but not frailty, in the adjusted model. Independently of these characteristics, age-standardized prevalence of frailty varied among geographical regions. Age-standardized 4-year incidence of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 6.6% (3.0-10.1) and 40.2% (32.7-47.6), respectively.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0027_s_009">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Among the Slovenian population of older adults aged 65 years and older, the age-standardized prevalence of frailty is 15% and 4-year incidence of frailty is 7%. Regional differences in Slovenia show the lowest prevalence in central Slovenian regions and the highest in northeastern Slovenian regions.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Frailty is recognized as one of the most important global health challenges as the population is aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence and incidence of frailty, and associated factors, among the population of older adults in Slovenia compared to other European countries.

Methods
The prevalence and 4-year incidence of frailty among older adults (≥65 years) were evaluated using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Frailty was defined by the SHARE operationalization of Frailty phenotype. Multiple logistic regression model was used to explore factors associated with frailty.

Results
Age-standardized prevalence (95% CI) of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 14.9% (13.3-16.5) and 42.5% (39.8-45.2), respectively. Factors (OR, 95% CI) associated with increased frailty in Slovenia included age (7584 years: 5.03 (3.08-8.22); ≥85 years 21.7 (10.6-44.7) vs. 65-74 years), self-rated health (fair: 4.58 (2.75-7.61), poor: 54.6 (28.1-105.9) vs. excellent/very good/good), number of chronic diseases (1.20 (1.03-1.40)), and polypharmacy (yes: 3.25 (1.93-5.48) vs. no). Female gender and lower education were significantly associated with pre-frailty, but not frailty, in the adjusted model. Independently of these characteristics, age-standardized prevalence of frailty varied among geographical regions. Age-standardized 4-year incidence of frailty and pre-frailty in Slovenia were 6.6% (3.0-10.1) and 40.2% (32.7-47.6), respectively.

Conclusion
Among the Slovenian population of older adults aged 65 years and older, the age-standardized prevalence of frailty is 15% and 4-year incidence of frailty is 7%. Regional differences in Slovenia show the lowest prevalence in central Slovenian regions and the highest in northeastern Slovenian regions.

Prevalence and incidence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Slovenia

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Razširjenost in pojavnost krhkosti med starejšimi odraslimi v Sloveniji

Introduction
Frailty is recognized as one of the most important global health challenges as the population is aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate...

Prevalence and incidence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jun 28, 2021

Page range: 190 - 198

Received: Aug 05, 2020

Accepted: May 27, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0027

Keywords
frailty, older adults, SHARE survey, prevalence, incidence

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Prevalence and incidence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Slovenia

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jun 28, 2021

Page range: 190 - 198

Received: Aug 05, 2020

Accepted: May 27, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0027

Keywordsfrailty, older adults, SHARE survey, prevalence, incidence

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
frailty, older adults, SHARE survey, prevalence, incidence