Public Health Weekly Report · Oct 29, 2026

Frailty Prevalence and Related Factors among Older Adults in the Republic of Korea and the Need for Tailored Community-based Frailty Prevention Strategies

By Hwang I, Park K, Park KS et al.

Objectives: This study proposes tailored, local government-centered frailty prevention strategies that emphasize early frailty management in a super-aged society and consider sociodemographic characteristics, as well as domestic and international cases. Methods: National statistics, including the National Survey of Older Koreans and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as well as domestic and international policy and project reports, were comprehensively reviewed to assess frailty prevalence and current public health center programs. Results: Frailty and pre-frailty prevalence among older adults aged ≥65 were 4.6% and 32.2%, respectively, with clear differences across sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age, residential environment, and household type. Frailty shows "reversible dynamics" responsive to intervention, and preventive programs have demonstrated effectiveness in international settings and in some domestic local governments in the Republic of Korea. However, current public health center programs focus mainly on vulnerable groups, limiting early risk detection because they lack standardized manuals and regional, data-based response systems. Conclusions: Based on national institutional support from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, including frailty surveys and standardized manuals, local governments should strengthen their capacity to implement guidelines and deliver region-specific programs. In addition, an effective frailty prevention framework requires a supportive community environment, public-private collaboration among resident volunteers and welfare/medical systems, and a sustainable follow-up management system.

doi.org/10.56786/phwr.2026.19.41suppl.1Open accessPubMed 42968975Populations