Abstract

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of frailty syndrome and identify associated factors in elderly diabetic inpatients at Hue Central Hospital.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 55 patients aged ≥ 60 years with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who were admitted to the Department of General Internal Medicine - Geriatrics, Hue Central Hospital from September 2025 to December 2025. Frailty was assessed using the Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP). Frailty was defined as the presence of ≥ 3 out of 5 criteria.

Results: The mean age of participants was 76.5 ± 10.1 years, and 65.0% were female. More than 60% of patients had at least two chronic comorbidities. The prevalence of frailty was 43.6%, while 56.4% were classified as non-frail. Frailty prevalence increased with age and was markedly higher in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Factors associated with frailty included age ≥ 75 years, more than two chronic comorbidities, poor glycemic control, and a duration of diabetes greater than 10 years.

Conclusion: Frailty syndrome is highly prevalent among elderly diabetic inpatients. Routine screening for frailty using simple tools such as the Fried Frailty Phenotype is essential for early detection and optimization of comprehensive and individualized care strategies.