Frailty, mild cognitive impairment and Life satisfaction and its interrelationships among elderly in Delhi: A community-based analytical study

Background: The rapidly aging population in India necessitates a better and comprehensive understanding of geriatric conditions such as frailty, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and life satisfaction, which are found to be interrelated yet understudied in urban Indian settings. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of frailty, MCI, and life satisfaction and their interrelationships among elderly in Delhi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 221 elderly individuals (≥60 years) in South Delhi using convenience sampling. Validated scales were used, like the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) for frailty, cognition using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and life satisfaction using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman's correlation were applied. Results: The prevalence of frailty (EFS ≥6) was 37.6% (95% CI: 31.3–44.4), and MCI (MoCA <26) was 42.5% (95% CI: 35.9–49.3). Life satisfaction was generally high, with 76.9% reporting slight to extreme satisfaction. Frailty showed significant positive correlation with MCI (ρ=0.560, p<0.001) and negative correlation with life satisfaction (ρ=-0.480, p<0.001). MCI was also negatively correlated with life satisfaction (ρ=-0.520, p<0.001). Significant associations were found between frailty/MCI and older age, illiteracy, unemployment, lower socioeconomic status, and a history of falls. Conclusion: A high burden of frailty and MCI exists among elderly in Delhi, both adversely affecting life satisfaction. Integrated screening and multidimensional interventions targeting physical, cognitive, and psychosocial health are urgently needed.