The relationship between disability and intrinsic capacity among older adults with disabilities in nursing institutions: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionIntrinsic capacity was an important indicator of physical and mental function within the WHO healthy aging framework. Previous studies mainly examined IC decline and its relationship with disability and adverse health outcomes. However, whether IC could reflect functional differences among older adults with disabilities in nursing institutions remained unclear, particularly under the GB/T 42195-2022 Chinese National Disability Classification Standard. This study classified disability degree according to GB/T 42195-2022 and examined whether overall IC and its domains varied across disability degrees. From a public health and long-term care perspective, identifying impaired and preserved capacities could inform health management, reduce care dependence, and support quality of life and healthy aging.MethodsFrom August to November 2023, 208 older adults with disabilities were recruited by convenience sampling from five nursing institutions in Jilin Province, China. We collected data through face-to-face interviews, the Integrated Care for Older People tool, the Mini-Mental State Examination, Short Physical Performance Battery, Mini Nutritional Assessment, World Health Organization-recommended visual acuity test, APP-based hearing test, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Spearman’s correlation and ordinal logistic regression examined associations.ResultsIntrinsic capacity of older adults with disabilities was impaired across multiple domains. Greater disability degree was associated with more severe IC impairment. However, patterns of variation were not entirely consistent across IC domains and disability degree. The disability degree showed a significant positive correlation with the ICOPE screening score (r = 0.494, p < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with the domain-specific IC measures of motor (r = −0.754, p < 0.01), cognitive (r = −0.513, p < 0.01), and vitality functions (r = −0.338, p < 0.01). The correlations were lower for psychological (r = 0.055, p > 0.05), hearing (r = −0.134, p > 0.05), and vision functions (r = 0.100, p > 0.05).DiscussionEven after disability occurred, IC could still reflect functional status, while different domains showed distinct patterns across disability degrees. Domain-specific assessment could support targeted care and functional maintenance. In long-term care facilities, care and environmental factors could also influence function. Identifying impaired and preserved IC domains could help reduce care dependence and support quality of life and healthy aging.