an increasing trendp = 0.002
Results The latent variable growth model showed a decreasing trend in frailty (S = −0.197, p = 0.013) and an increasing trend in postoperative cognitive function (S = 0.124, p = 0.002) from T1 to T3 in elderly spinal surgery patients; at the initial level, frailty was negatively correlated with cognitive function ( r = −0.452, p < 0.001), and initial levels of frailty negatively predicted the self development rate ( β = −0.516, p < 0.001), the initial level of frailty negatively predicted the development rate of postoperative cognitive function ( β = −0.321, p = 0.003), and the initial level of postoperative cognitive function positively predicted the development rate of frailty ( β = 0.192, p = 0.031).