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Malnutrition; Frailty; and High Fall Risk in Older Adults: Examining Their Interactive Effects in a Cross-Sectional Study

delete2026-07-09
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OA
AI
H
Honghong Wen
H
Heting Liang
Q
Qingyun Mao
S
Shaoting Yang
X
Xiaoli Yuan
DOI:10.2147/cia.s609884delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Honghong Wen,1,2 Heting Liang,1 Qingyun Mao,2 Shaoting Yang,2 Xiaoli Yuan1 1Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Faculty of Nursing, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China Correspondence: Xiaoli Yuan, Email 872428494@qq.com Background: Falls are a major public health concern for older adults, impacting health. Frailty and malnutrition are widely studied variables closely linked to fall risk. While the individual links of these factors with fall risk are known, their combined effects and quantitative relationships remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the interactive effects of malnutrition and frailty on fall risk among older adults. Methods: This study involved the recruitment of 13,970 older adults from 10 communities, who were assessed using the frailty score, the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Scale, and the STEADI tool. Multiplicative interactions were calculated through logistic regression. Additive interactions were evaluated using the relative excess risk (RERI), attribution ratio (AP), and synergy index (SI). Results: 24.1% of participants were identified as having high fall risk. Frailty and malnutrition each independently correlate with fall risk. Compared with participants who were non-frail and well-nourished, those with coexisting frailty and malnutrition had significantly higher odds of high fall risk (OR = 15.83, 95% CI: 11.77– 21.28). A significant multiplicative interaction between frailty and malnutrition was confirmed (OR = 1.064, 95% CI: 1.047– 1.082). Significant positive additive interaction was also identified: RERI = 1.58 (95% CI: 0.19– 2.96), AP = 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01– 0.19), and SI = 1.18 (95% CI: 1.02– 1.36). Conclusion: Frailty and malnutrition are correlated with high fall risk in older adults, with a modest positive interaction observed between the two conditions, offering empirical support for the development of comprehensive fall prevention and management strategies. Keywords: older adults, frailty, malnutrition, falls, interaction
Keywords:
older adults
frailty
malnutrition
falls
interaction

Journal

Clinical Interventions in Aging cover
Clinical Interventions in Aging
IF:
3.7
Papers:
3.1K
Citations:
1.1W

Organization

F
Faculty of Nursing
Scholars:
496
Papers: 244
Citations: 1
D
department of nursing
Scholars:
742
Papers: 550
Citations: 0
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