title: Frailty is associated with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in community-dwelling older subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the association between frailty and sociodemographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in community-dwelling older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional survey in a population-based sample of 542 community-dwelling subjects aged 65 years and older living in a metropolitan area in Italy. Frailty was evaluated by means of the FRAIL scale proposed by the International Association of Nutrition and Aging. Basal and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL, IADL), physical activity, sociodemographic (age, gender, marital status and cohabitation), socioeconomic (education, economic conditions and occupational status) and lifestyle domains (cultural and technological fruition and social activation) were assessed through specific validated tools. Statistical analysis was performed through multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Impairments in ADL and IADL were significantly associated with frailty, while moderate and high physical activity were inversely associated with frailty. Moreover, regarding both socioeconomic variables and lifestyle factors, more disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions and low levels of cultural fruition were significantly associated with frailty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, particularly cultural fruition, are associated with frailty independently from functional impairment and low physical activity. Cultural habits may therefore represent a new target of multimodal interventions against geriatric frailty.
authors: Department of Education, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy. Stefano.poli@unige.it.
authors: Stefano
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3663-174X
authors: S
authors: Poli
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Cella
authors: Clinical Trial Unit, Scientific Direction, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Puntoni
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Clarissa
authors: C
authors: Musacchio
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Pomata
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Torriglia
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Vello
authors: Department of Education, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Beba
authors: B
authors: Molinari
authors: Department of Education, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Pandolfini
authors: Department of Education, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Torrigiani
authors: Department Geriatric Care, OrthoGeriatrics and Rehabilitation, E.O. Galliera Hospital, National Relevance and High Specialization, Genova, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Pilotto
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000073496:Frailty / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Aging; Cultural fruition; Disability; Education; Frailty; Lifestyle; SES