Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims
The increasing incidence of frailty among older adults in Bangladesh is a significant public health concern. This study aims to compare the level and determinants of frailty among older adults living in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh.
Methods
A cross‐sectional survey of 944 older adults aged 55 years and above, conducted in the Sylhet District of Bangladesh between 2022 and 2023, selected through a two‐stage random sampling method in urban areas and a multistage random approach in rural areas. The health status of participants was assessed using a 33‐indicator Frailty Index (FI
33
), which categorized individuals into four groups: good health (0 33
33
33
33
> 0.36). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson
χ
2
tests, and multinomial logistic regression.
Results
The prevalence of moderate to severe frailty was higher in rural areas (57.6%) compared to urban areas (49%). This difference was statistically significant (
χ
² = 37.09,
p
Conclusion
These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in rural areas and among older women to address frailty in Bangladesh's aging population.