Social frailty in older adults: proposal and application of an original measurement index.

Abstract

Objective: To develop and apply a multidimensional Social Frailty Index (SFI) to estimate the prevalence of social frailty among older adults in four departments of Colombia.

Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using secondary data from the SABE Colombia 2016 survey. The study included 3,506 individuals aged 60 years and older residing in Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío. Variables from demographic, health, and social domains were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to construct the SFI. Individuals scoring above the 75th percentile were classified as socially frail.

Results: The prevalence of social frailty was 25.3% (95% CI: 23.8-26.7), with higher rates observed among men (29.2%) and individuals aged 75 years and older (32.4%), as well as among residents of Antioquia. Four latent components were identified: (1) functional dependence; (2) social engagement and participation; (3) social and emotional isolation; and (4) perceived health and healthcare quality. The index showed consistency with theoretical frameworks and international tools.

Conclusions: This multidimensional index allows for early identification of vulnerable older adults, supporting targeted interventions and public health planning. Further research is needed to standardize measurement criteria and to evaluate the predictive value of social frailty in relation to outcomes such as disability, multimorbidity, mortality, and quality of life.