Frailty index trajectories in Chinese older adults with diverse levels of social participation: findings from a national population-based longitudinal study.

Background: Aging and frailty pose significant challenges globally, placing a substantial burden on healthcare and social services due to their adverse consequences.

Aim: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social participation and development of frailty transition and trajectory.

Methods: This study utilized data from the CLHLS Cohort, a 10-year follow-up study involving 6713 participants, to investigate the association between social participation and development of frailty. Frailty reflects a comprehensive decline in various body functions. The study employed a group-based trajectory model to analyze the development trajectory of the frailty index and used logistic regression to assess the odds ratio (OR) of frailty risk.

Results: We identified two distinct groups of frailty progression trajectories: the "stable development group" and the "rapid growth group." Individuals who engaged in social activities at least once a month, but not daily, exhibited a significant association with an increased risk of transitioning into the "rapid growth group" (OR 1.305, 95% CI 1.032-1.649). Those with social participation less than once a month had an even greater risk (OR 1.872, 95% CI 1.423-2.463). Moreover, low social participation frequency (occasionally/never) has a more pronounced impact on frailty progression in males.

Conclusion: A higher frequency of social participation is associated with a lower risk of being classified into the "rapid growth group" and a slower rate of frailty index progression. Preventing the progression of frailty can contribute to enhanced support for healthy aging among older adults.