A study on factors influencing the intrinsic capacity of elderly people in rural areas based on the random forest model

Enhancing and maintaining the intrinsic capacity of the elderly is crucial for preventing and mitigating disability and promoting healthy aging. This study explore the current status of intrinsic capacity among elderly individuals in rural areas and analyze the influencing factors. This study included 592 participants who were ≥60 years in rural areas of China. Investigations were conducted using a general information questionnaire, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the abbreviated version of the Lubben Social Network Scale, the Family Caregiving Index Scale, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Scale, the ICOPE intrinsic capacity screening tool, and a grip strength dynamometer. We used correlations, regressions, and random forest model for the analyses. The random forest algorithm results indicate that the minimum error occurred when the lambda (λ) value was set at 0.8978, corresponding to nine influencing factors. The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis indicate that health-promoting lifestyle, family functioning, sense of loneliness, perceived stress, grip strength, social network, number of chronic diseases, educational level, and economic income are the main factors affecting intrinsic capacity (p < 0.05) among rural elderly individuals. Health service personnel can identify high-risk groups early and implement effective interventions based on the factors influencing the intrinsic capacity of rural elderly individuals.