title: Searching for an operational definition of frailty: a Delphi method based consensus statement: the frailty operative definition-consensus conference project.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no consensus regarding the definition of frailty for clinical uses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A modified Delphi process was used to attempt to achieve consensus definition. Experts were selected from different fields and organized into five Focus Groups. A questionnaire was developed and sent to experts in the area of frailty. Responses and comments were analyzed using a pre-established strategy. Statements with an agreement more than or equal to 80% were accepted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 44% of the statements regarding the concept of frailty and 18% of the statements regarding diagnostic criteria were accepted. There was consensus on the value of screening for frailty and about the identification of six domains of frailty for inclusion in a clinical definition, but no agreement was reached concerning a specific set of clinical/laboratory biomarkers useful for diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is agreement on the usefulness of defining frailty in clinical settings as well as on its main dimensions. However, additional research is needed before an operative definition of frailty can be established.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, Spain. lrodriguez.hugf@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Leocadio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mañas
authors.forename: Catherine
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authors.lastname: Féart
authors.forename: Giovanni
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authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Jose
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authors.lastname: Viña
authors.forename: Somnath
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authors.lastname: Chatterji
authors.forename: Wojtek
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authors.lastname: Chodzko-Zajko
authors.forename: Magali
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authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Colaço Harmand
authors.forename: Howard
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authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Laure
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authors.lastname: Carcaillon
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authors.lastname: Sinclair
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authors.lastname: Pelaez
authors.forename: Tischa
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authors.lastname: Van der Cammen
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authors.lastname: Beland
authors.forename: Jerome
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authors.forename: Paul
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authors.lastname: Delamarche
authors.forename: Luigi
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authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Linda P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: Luis Miguel
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Robledo
authors.forename: Kenneth
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authors.lastname: Rockwood
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Artalejo
authors.forename: Gaetano
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authors.lastname: Serviddio
authors.forename: Enrique
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authors.lastname: Vega
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005104:Expert Testimony; D017144:Focus Groups; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans