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Advanced age, living alone, unemployment, depression, and physical frailty are associated with social frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

In a cross-sectional study of 334 older adults with type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of social frailty was 26.3%. Logistic regression identified age 70-79 years, age ≥80 years, living alone, unemployment, physical frailty, and depression as statistically significant factors associated with social frailty.

Last updated: Aug 11, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Current status and factors associated with social frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

observational

Liang B, Liang W, Xu D, Lin C · Frontiers in public health (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not applicable (cross-sectional)
Intervention: None (observational study)
Outcome: Social frailty (measured by HALFT scale), depression (GDS-5), sleep (AIS), family support (APGAR)
Effect Size: N/A (odds ratios not reported in abstract)
Population: Older adults with type 2 diabetes (mean age not specified, but aged 60+ likely) admitted to a Grade A Level III hospital in Shandong Province, China

Result:

PubMed: 42563998DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1891728

Mechanism Graph

Advanced age and living alone reduce social interactions and support networks.
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Unemployment limits social engagement and financial resources.
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Depression may reduce motivation for social participation.
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Physical frailty impairs mobility and ability to engage socially.
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These factors collectively increase risk of social frailty.

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference.
  • ⚠Convenience sampling from a single hospital limits generalizability.
  • ⚠Self-reported measures may introduce bias.
  • ⚠Data collection period (Feb-May 2026) is in the future, which is unusual and may indicate a typo or hypothetical study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prevalence of social frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes?▼

The prevalence was 26.3% in this study.

Which factors are associated with social frailty in this population?▼

Age 70-79 years, age ≥80 years, living alone, unemployment, physical frailty, and depression were significantly associated with social frailty.

How was social frailty measured in this study?▼

Social frailty was measured using the HALFT scale.

What is the clinical implication of this study?▼

Healthcare providers should conduct early screening and implement personalized interventions for high-risk individuals to improve social functioning and support glycemic control.

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References

  1. 1.Liang B, Liang W, Xu D, Lin C. "Current status and factors associated with social frailty in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.." Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42563998 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1891728
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.