Screening for frailty among seniors in clinical practice.
The normal course of aging is associated with gradual declines in a number of functional abilities. Patients who are at high risk of functional decline are described as frail or vulnerable. A screening tool to identify such patients is needed, as it has been shown that intervention can delay the onset and/or slow the progression of functional decline. This Review describes the methods currently available for nonspecialist evaluation of aging individuals, including behavioral, interview and questionnaire assessments. Such assessments can be undertaken during routine physician visits. In recognition of the time pressures on physicians, this article focuses on those measurements that are fairly comprehensive yet concise, easy to administer in an office setting, and available in English.
Corapi
Kristin M
KM
Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. kricorapi@rcsi.ie
McGee
Hannah M
HM
Barker
Maja
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*