Association between health information-processing ability and frailty among community-dwelling older adults: A cross-sectional web-based study

Abstract

Aim: Health literacy refers to the ability to understand and use health-related information, which underpins improvements in healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion. Although it is crucial for frailty prevention, the specific information-processing abilities associated with frailty remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the association between information-processing ability and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional, web-based survey study was conducted on June 12–13, 2024, targeting 1032 independent adults aged ≥75 years. Frailty was assessed using the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (score ≥4 indicating frailty). Health literacy was evaluated via the Health Literacy Survey European Questionnaire-47, dichotomized into “easy” or “difficult.” Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine associations. Results: In total, 1032 participants (50.2% male) were analyzed, with frailty in 30.8%. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, income, education and living situation, revealed significant associations between frailty and difficulties in “obtaining health information” across all domains. In the healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion domains, difficulty with “find where to get professional help when you are ill” (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.99), “find information about vaccinations and health screenings that you should have” (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.16–3.09) and “find information on healthy activities such as exercise, healthy food and nutrition” (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.16–2.70), respectively, showed a high frailty risk. Conclusions: This study identified specific health information-processing abilities related to frailty. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of frailty prevention strategies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 1215–1222.