What is it about?

As people live longer, maintaining health and independence in older age has become an important public health challenge. Frailty is a condition in which older adults become more vulnerable to illness, falls, disability, and loss of independence. However, little was known about how common frailty is among older adults in Sikkim, a northeastern state of India. In this study, we surveyed 530 adults aged 60 years and above living in both urban and rural communities across Sikkim. We found that more than half of the participants were frail. Older age, physical inactivity, living in a nuclear family, being divorced or separated, and not working after the age of 60 were linked with a higher likelihood of frailty. These findings highlight the need for early screening, healthy ageing programs, and community-based support services to help older adults remain active, independent, and healthy for longer.

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Why is it important?

India's population is ageing rapidly, and frailty is becoming an important but often overlooked public health challenge. Frailty increases the risk of falls, disability, hospitalization, dependence on caregivers, and premature death. Despite its growing importance, there is very limited evidence on frailty from northeastern India, particularly Sikkim. This study provides some of the first community-based data on frailty among older adults in Sikkim and shows that more than half of the participants were affected. By identifying key factors associated with frailty, such as advancing age, physical inactivity, social circumstances, and reduced engagement in work, the study highlights groups that may benefit most from early screening and preventive interventions. The findings can help healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations develop targeted healthy-ageing programs, promote physical activity and social engagement, and strengthen support systems for older adults. As India's elderly population continues to grow, such evidence is essential for planning services that improve quality of life and reduce the burden on families and healthcare systems.

Perspectives

As a clinician and researcher working in Sikkim, I have observed that many older adults experience declining physical function, reduced independence, and increasing healthcare needs, yet frailty often goes unrecognized until serious complications occur. This prompted our interest in understanding how common frailty is among older adults in the community and the factors that may contribute to it. What makes this study particularly important to me is that evidence from northeastern India is scarce, and Sikkim has unique demographic, geographic, and social characteristics that may influence healthy ageing. Our findings show that frailty affects a substantial proportion of older adults and is closely linked to factors such as age, physical activity, family structure, and continued engagement in work and daily life. I believe this research can contribute to a shift from focusing only on disease management to promoting healthy ageing, independence, and quality of life among older adults. By identifying individuals at risk earlier, communities and healthcare systems can develop targeted interventions that help older adults remain active, socially connected, and functionally independent for as long as possible.

Dr. Samrat Singh Bhandari
Sikkim Manipal University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Frailty among Older Adults in Sikkim, India: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study, Indian Journal of Public Health, April 2026, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_387_25.
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