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Background Studies that examined changes in frailty in older populations have been increasing. However, frailty patterns are often portrayed as having single trajectories corresponding to age, and different courses of change in frailty and related factors remain unexplored. Objectives We aimed to identify distinct frailty trajectories over time and examine the relationship of frailty trajectories with the sociodemographic and lifestyle-related factors among older Koreans. Methods We used data of 3160 community-dwelling Korean adults aged ≥65 years from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2016). We conducted the analyses using group-based trajectory modeling, analysis of variance or chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression. Results We identified three frailty trajectory groups among older Koreans: no frailty, increasing frailty, and high frailty based on a deficit-related frailty measure. Each frailty trajectory group showed unique sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Compared to individuals in the no frailty group, those in the increasing frailty group were more likely to be older, less educated, unemployed, current smokers, and current drinkers. Compared to those in the no frailty group, individuals in the high frailty group were more likely to be older, unemployed, current drinkers, and without regular exercise. Conclusions Using longitudinal data over a 10-year period, we identified multiple frailty trajectories in a cohort of older Koreans, which highlights a significant heterogeneity in frailty development. Our findings suggest the importance of socioeconomic status in determining different patterns of frailty change and the role of lifestyle factors in delaying frailty.

Objective. Our aim was to examine whether engagement in productive activities, including volunteering, paid work, and childcare, protects older adults against the development of geriatric frailty. Methods. Data from the first (1988) and second (1991) waves of the macArthur Study of Successful Aging, a prospec- tive cohort study of high-functioning older adults aged 70-79 years ( n = 1,072), was used to examine the hypothesis that engagement in productive activities is associated with lower levels of frailty 3 years later. Results. Engagement in productive activities at baseline was associated with a lower cumulative odds of frailty 3 years later in unadjusted models (odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58-0.96) but not after adjusting for age, disability, and cognitive function (adjusted OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.60-1.01). Examination of productive activity domains showed that volunteering (but neither paid work nor childcare) was associated with a lower cumulative odds of frailty after adjusting for age, disability, and cognitive function. This relationship diminished and was no longer statisti - cally significant after adjusting for personal mastery and religious service attendance. Discussion. Though high-functioning older adults who participate in productive activities are less likely to become frail, after adjusting for age, disability, and cognitive function, only volunteering is associated with a lower cumulative odds of frailty.

East and South Asian male immigrants show markedly low odds of prostate cancer screening as compared to U.S.-born men. However, knowledge about these immigrants’ culture-based screening behavior and barriers to screening is extremely limited. This study investigates factors influencing receipt of prostate cancer screening among Korean American immigrant men, particularly investigating culture’s impact on screening behaviors. Data were collected through a convenience and purposive sampling technique from 134 Korean American males aged 50 and older recruited in New York City. A structured questionnaire was used and cultural variables were measured by adopting items from Tang and colleagues’ work. Approximately 60 % of the sample had received a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in their lifetime, and of these, about 66 % reported having done so in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a crisis-oriented intervention approach was associated with a substantially reduced likelihood of screening. A positive correlation was noted between the use of Eastern medicine and PSA test receipt. Further analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between use of Eastern medicine and age in predicting PSA test uptake. Culture-specific intervention strategies for increasing prostate cancer screening in this group are discussed, with particular attention to increasing pertinent health literacy. Health professionals should consider the cultural domain when working with Korean immigrant men in order to provide culturally competent care.