Frailty and its multidimensional correlates among hospitalized older adults with pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study

The study examined frailty in 219 hospitalized older adults aged 60 years and older with pulmonary tuberculosis in China. The median frailty score was 2.00, indicating that many patients were in a vulnerable or pre-frail state. The research found that frailty was positively associated with white blood cell count and social support, and negatively associated with fall risk and anxiety. White blood cell count, social support score, and fall risk score were independently associated with frailty. The authors concluded that frailty assessment should be integrated into routine care for older adults with tuberculosis and recommend multidimensional screening incorporating infection-related indicators, functional status, and psychosocial context.