Fragility syndrome in older adults in a rural community in the Peruvian Andes

Introduction: There are few studies on Frailty Syndrome in older adults living in high-altitude communities. Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with Frailty Syndrome in older adults residing in the district of Chaglla-Huánuco, located at 3000 meters above sea level. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out in adults over 60 years of age living in a rural community in the Peruvian Andes. For the evaluation of the dependent variable, a modified version of Fried's criteria was used. Associated factors were calculated using crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), using a multiple Poisson regression model with robust variance. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of 233 older adults studied, there was a median age of 74 years (interquartile range: 70-79 years), with 50.6% being female. The prevalence of frailty was 72.1%. The presence of depression (PRa = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.43-2.18, p <0.001) and the female sex (PRa = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.16-1.81, p = 0.001) were independently associated with an increased risk of developing this syndrome. Conclusions: The prevalence of Frailty Syndrome among older adults residing in a rural Andean community was high. The factors associated with this diagnosis were the presence of depression and female sex. More studies are required on this topic in rural high-altitude populations.