FRAILTY predicts falls in adults with type 2 diabetes Hanoi geriatric hospital documentation demonstrates quadrupled-odds annually.
Frailty Predicts Falls in Type 2 Diabetes
Falls and frailty can compound morbidity in later life, particularly for people living with type 2 diabetes. In a cross-sectional study from a geriatric hospital outpatient setting in Hanoi, Vietnam, investigators assessed whether frailty independently signaled higher fall risk among adults aged 60 years and older with established type 2 diabetes.
The study enrolled 740 outpatients between March and December 2024. Frailty was classified using the Clinical Frailty Scale, while fall risk was evaluated with the 21-item Fall Risk Index, alongside patient reports of at least one fall in the prior year. Overall, 17.8% of participants were categorized as frail and 16.8% reported a fall in the past 12 months.
Independent Association After Multivariable Adjustment
Across four multivariable logistic regression models, frailty remained strongly associated with falls. In the fully adjusted model, frailty emerged as an independent predictor, with an adjusted odds ratio of 4.47 (95% CI 2.00–5.29; p<0.001). The analysis adjusted for demographics, diabetes related factors, and coexisting geriatric syndromes, supporting frailty as a clinically meaningful signal beyond routine diabetes variables.
The authors also identified additional fall-associated factors in this outpatient cohort. Advanced age, poor glycemic control, and diabetic complications were linked with higher fall likelihood. Several geriatric syndromes were also significant, including depression, urinary incontinence, cognitive impairment, and sarcopenia. Together, these findings highlight how metabolic control, diabetes burden, and geriatric vulnerability may converge in shaping fall risk.
Clinical Takeaway for Routine Care
The authors conclude that routine frailty screening could be integrated into type 2 diabetes care to help identify older adults at elevated fall risk and guide tailored fall prevention strategies.
Reference: Dinh HT et al. Frailty as a Predictor of Falls in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence from Vietnam. Clin Interv Aging. 2025;20:2641-2650.
