Abstract
Introduction. Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome associated with decreased functional capacity and a high risk of adverse outcomes. According to studies, its prevalence among individuals aged 50 years and older averages 17.4 %, while pre-frailty prevalence reaches 49.3 %. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, the issue of frailty remains insufficiently studied despite the growing proportion of older adults and the high prevalence of chronic diseases. Objective: analysis of current data on frailty in older adults. Materials and Methods. A review of the scientific literature on the prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic methods of frailty in older adults was conducted. The search was performed in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for the period 2010-2025. Articles in Russian and English focusing on frailty in older adults were included; irrelevant and duplicate publications were excluded. Results. Frailty is a syndrome with a staged and dynamic course. Three stages are distinguished: robust, pre-frailty, and frailty. The prevalence of the syndrome varies from 10 % to 24 % depending on the population, reaching about 20 % in Asian countries and decreasing to 7-8 % in some countries. Pre-frailty is more common and may reach 40-50 %. The highest prevalence is observed among individuals with multimorbidity and in low- and middle-income countries. The main risk factors include advanced age, multimorbidity, low physical activity, poor nutrition, cognitive impairment, and social isolation. Conclusions. Frailty is a common and clinically significant syndrome that has a substantial impact on the health and quality of life of older adults. The high variability in prevalence and the multifactorial nature of its development require a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and prevention.