Frailty and healthy aging among older adults in Vietnam: Current evidence and implications for geriatric nursing practice

Background: Frailty is increasingly recognized as a major geriatric syndrome and a critical determinant of healthy aging worldwide. Characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, frailty is associated with functional decline, hospitalization, disability, poor quality of life, and mortality. Vietnam is experiencing one of the most rapid demographic transitions in Asia, with a rapidly growing population of older adults and an increasing burden of chronic diseases and functional impairment. Despite growing research interest, evidence regarding frailty among Vietnamese older adults remains fragmented and has not been comprehensively synthesized from a geriatric nursing perspective. This review aimed to summarize current evidence on frailty and healthy aging among older adults in Vietnam and to discuss implications for geriatric nursing practice.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using evidence retrieved from PubMed, Google Scholar, the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Burden of Disease (GBD) databases, and official reports from the Ministry of Health of Vietnam and the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 were identified using combinations of keywords related to frailty, healthy aging, older adults, functional decline, geriatric nursing, and Vietnam. Eligible sources included peer-reviewed original studies, systematic reviews, and national and international reports.
Results: The evidence indicates that frailty is becoming an important public health issue in Vietnam. Frailty among older adults is associated with advanced age, multimorbidity, malnutrition, sarcopenia, polypharmacy, social isolation, and reduced physical activity. Frail older adults experience increased risks of falls, hospitalization, disability, dependence in activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, and mortality. Existing healthcare services in Vietnam remain inadequately prepared to address the multidimensional needs of frail older adults, particularly in community and long-term care settings.
Conclusions: Frailty has emerged as an important challenge for healthy aging in Vietnam. Strengthening early screening, comprehensive geriatric assessment, community-based interventions, and geriatric nursing capacity is essential for promoting healthy aging and reducing adverse health outcomes among older adults.