Functional fitness represents a composite measure of multi-dimension of physical capacity. However, it remains unclear whether the multiple dimensions of functional fitness exhibit consistent patterns or heterogeneous characteristics across different elderly individuals., whether distinct population subgroups demonstrate similar or divergent categorical traits.

To analyze the latent categorical characteristics of functional fitness levels among community-dwelling older adults and identify their associated influencing factors.

From March to November 2021, multi-stage stratified sampling was conducted in Suzhou to collect senior fitness test (SFT) data from 1 122 community-dwelling older adults. Integrating data on general demographic characteristics and health status indicators, latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify latent categories of functional fitness, followed by multivariate Logistic regression to explore influencing factors.

Among the 1 122 participants, 458 were male (40.8%) and 664 were female (59.2%), with a mean age of (69.34±6.54) years. LPA supported a three-category model, classifying the participants into high (n=431, 38.4%), moderate (n=582, 51.9%), and low (n=109, 9.7%) functional fitness groups respectively. All test indicators showed parallel trends across the three groups, suggesting that the structure of functional fitness is characterized by overall consistency rather than multi-dimensional heterogeneity. Notably, the timed up and go test (TUGT) exhibited the largest difference among the three groups, while inter-group differences in flexibility indicators were relatively small. Multivariate Logistic regression results revealed that, compared with the high functional fitness group: older adults with advanced age (OR=1.298), male sex (OR=2.399), low educational level (primary school or below) (OR=6.748, 19.052), and chronic diseases (OR=3.475) had a significantly higher risk having low functional fitness (P<0.05); older adults with advanced age (OR=1.109), male sex (OR=1.448), low educational attainment (OR=1.596, 2.204, 2.465), chronic diseases (OR=1.588), and self-paid medical expenses (OR=2.200) were more likely to be in the moderate functional fitness group (P<0.05). The participants with low educational level had the highest risk of having low physical fitness level (OR=6.748-19.052).

The multi-dimensional functional fitness levels of community-dwelling older adults can be categorized into high, moderate, and low tiers based on overall performance. TUGT is recommended as a preferred indicator for screening functional fitness in this population. Targeted health education, early screening, and functional fitness interventions should be prioritized for older adults with advanced age, male sex, chronic diseases, and particularly those with low educational attainment.

功能性体适能是身体多维度素质的综合表现，不同老年个体的功能性体适能多个维度水平之间是否存在高度一致性或异质性，即不同人群是否呈现了相似或不同的类别特征，此问题尚不明确。

分析社区老年人功能性体适能水平的潜在类别特征及其影响因素。

2021年3—11月在苏州市内利用多阶段分层抽样获得1 122例社区老年人体适能测试（SFT）数据，结合一般人口学特征及健康状况指标，采用潜在剖面分析（LPA）识别功能性体适能的潜在类别，并运用多因素Logistic回归分析探讨其影响因素。

1 122例社区老年人中男458例（40.8%）、女664例（59.2%），平均年龄（69.34±6.54）岁。潜在剖面分析支持3分类模型，分别为体适能水平较高组（n=431，38.4%）、体适能水平中等组（n=582，51.9%）和体适能水平较低组（n=109，9.7%）。3类人群在各项测试指标上呈现平行变化趋势，表明体适能结构具有整体一致性，而非多维异质性。其中，起立-步行计时测试（TUGT）在3类人群中差别最大，而柔韧性指标的组间差异相对较小。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示，与体适能水平较高组相比，年龄较高（OR=1.298）、男性（OR=2.399）、文化水平较低（小学及小学以下）（OR=6.748、19.052）、有慢性病（OR=3.475），其归于体适能水平较低组的风险更高（P<0.05）；年龄较高（OR=1.109）、男性（OR=1.448）、文化水平较低（OR=1.596、2.204、2.465）、有慢性病（OR=1.588）以及医疗付费自费的老年人（OR=2.200），其归于体适能水平中等组的可能性更大（P<0.05）。其中，文化水平较低者出现低体适能的风险最高（OR=6.748~19.052）。

社区老年人群的多维度功能性体适能水平可依据整体表现区分为高、中、低3个类别，TUGT或可作为社区老年人功能性体适能筛查的优选指标，对于年龄较高、男性、有慢性病者，尤其是文化水平较低者，应该增加对体适能水平的健康教育、早期筛查和干预。