The efficacy of exercise to reverse frailty in the aging population has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program (MCEP) on frailty, physical performance (handgrip strength, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and VO₂Max), blood biomarkers (Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) in frail older adults. A randomized controlled trial using an allocation concealment method, included 64 older adults (77.78 ± 7.24 years), were divided into two parallel groups using block randomization: an MCEP group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 32). The combined center- and home-based MCEP training consisted of chair aerobic, resistance, and balance, which was carried out 3 days per week for 24 weeks. A mixed model repeated measure ANOVA demonstrated significant interaction effects of group x time for BBS, TUG and frailty scores (p < 0.001). Additionally, the post-hoc analysis revealed that the MCEP group showed significantly improved BBS, TUG, and frailty scores (p < 0.01), at both 12- and 24-weeks. When compared with controls at 12-weeks, the MCEP group decreased IL-6 and CRP levels (p < 0.05). The combined center- and home-based MCEP were effective in reversing frailty to pre-frailty and improving physical performance especially balance in the older population.

Fall is the leading cause of disability and mortality due to unintentional injury in older adults. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with knee pain, fear of falling, and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults in Northern Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults aged 60 and over. A total of 369 participants were enrolled from April to May 2024. Oxford knee score, a short version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) and World Health Organization quality of life-BREF-Thai, was measured. The results showed that the mean age was 69.4 years and 47 (12.7%) had a history of falls in the previous year. The prevalence of fear of falling was 39.3% for low, 22.5% for moderate, and 38.2% for high concern. Age, marital status, alcohol, history of falls, hypertension, arthritis, and osteoporosis were associated with fear of falling. After adjusting to age, gender, body mass index, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol, history of falls, and chronic disease, osteoarthritis of the knee was positively associated with increasing fear of falling (β: 0.361; p<0.001), while quality of life was negatively associated with fear of falling (β: -0.064; p<0.011). In conclusion, the identified determinants of fear of falling among the elderly indicated the need for fear of falling prevention programs targeting not only individual lifestyles but also chronic diseases. This study provides useful information that might help to develop and adopt effective policies for fear of falling control in Thailand.

Background: Health literacy is a multidimensional concept that can lead to changing self-care behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to assess health literacy, self-care behaviors, and factors related to self-care behaviors in traditional Thai medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 422 participants. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic characteristics, health literacy of traditional Thai medicine with COVID-19, and self-care behavior with traditional Thai medicine in relation to COVID-19. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent-sample test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score for communication to promote health was high (34.6±8.4). The mean score of overall health literacy was moderate (156.8±20.7), followed by self-care behavior (45.6±6.0), access to health information and services (30.5±5.2), and health knowledge and understanding (26.7±2.6). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that there were significantly positive self-care behaviors, namely, access to health information and services (P-value < 0.001), communication to promote health (P-value < 0.001), media and information literacy (P-value < 0.043), and overall health literacy (P-value < 0.003), while informed decision-making was significantly negatively associated with self-care behaviors (P-value < 0.004). Conclusion: Increasing overall health literacy and each dimension was associated with self-care behaviors. The findings suggest that interventional programs to develop health literacy are required to improve self-care behaviors.

Background: Fear of falling is a prevalent concern among older adults and is associated with physical inactivity, reduced independence, and decreased quality of life. Although various factors contribute to the fear of falling, limited evidence exists regarding the relationship between body mass index status, balance impairment, and fear of falling, particularly in rural populations. Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between body mass index, balance impairment, and fear of falling among community-dwelling older adults in a rural area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 439 older adults aged 60 years and above residing in rural Thailand. In the initial phase, a list of older adults was obtained from primary care center records, and simple random sampling was employed to select participants according to the inclusion criteria. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, body mass index, balanced performance (measured using the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go test), and fear of falling (assessed using the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors significantly associated with fear of falling. Results: The results showed that 56.7%, 18.5%, and 24.8% of the elderly had low, moderate, and high fear of falling, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that balance performance, as measured by the Berg Balance Scale, was the only significant predictor of fear of falling (β = –0.298, p < 0.001), whereas the Timed Up and Go test and body mass index were not significantly associated. Conclusion: Balance impairment is a key determinant of fear of falling among older adults in rural areas. Interventions to improve balance may be effective in reducing fear of falling and preventing functional decline in this population.

Health literacy (HL) is an important factor associated with individuals’ capacity to manage their health effectively. This cross-sectional study assessed HL and its associated factors among 327 community-dwelling individuals in Northern Thailand. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the 47-item European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47). The participants were predominantly female (59.9%), with a mean age of 59.0 ± 11.7 years. Overall, 60.2% of the participants exhibited problematic HL across all domains. In bivariate analyses, overall HL was significantly associated with sex, age, body mass index (BMI), education, marital status, and hypertension. Age was negatively correlated with overall HL (r = −0.250, p < 0.001), whereas BMI was positively correlated with overall HL (r = 0.130, p = 0.019). In the multivariable linear regression model, higher education (β = 4.251, p < 0.001), female sex (β = 2.310, p = 0.002), and alcohol consumption (β = 1.411, p = 0.047) were independently associated with higher HL scores. Conversely, marital status (β = −1.747, p = 0.033) was associated with lower HL scores. Problematic HL was highly prevalent in this population and was associated with sociodemographic and health-related factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted, context-specific health communication and education strategies to improve HL among vulnerable community-dwelling populations, particularly older adults and individuals with lower educational attainment.