Association Between Sugar‐Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Frailty Among Older Adults With Hypertension: Evidence From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020

Frailty is a condition characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes, particularly among older adults. With the significant prevalence of hypertension and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in this demographic, it is essential to explore their potential combined effects on frailty. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 1999-2020, involving 13,465 hypertensive adults aged 60 and above. Frailty was assessed using a Frailty Index based on 49 deficits, categorizing individuals as frail if their score was ≥ 0.25. SSB consumption was measured through 24-h dietary recalls. Multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusted for various confounding factors including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status, and lifestyle choices, indicated that SSB consumption was independently associated with an increased likelihood of frailty (odds ratio = 1.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.37, <i>p</i> = 0.02). Additionally, restricted cubic spline curve fitting revealed a linear relationship between SSB intake and frailty levels. Our findings suggested that SSB consumption was associated with frailty in older hypertensive adults, emphasizing the need for further research on the underlying mechanisms and potential interventions.