Table 4.

A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people

1 Very fit— robust, active, energetic, well-motivated and fit; these people commonly exercise regularly and are in the most fit group for their age

2 Well—without active disease, but less fit than people in category 1

3 Well, with treated comorbid disease—disease symptoms are well controlled compared with those in category 4

4 Apparently vulnerable—although not frankly dependent, these people commonly complain of being ‘slowed up’ or have disease symptoms

5 Mildly frail—with limited dependence on others for instrumental activities of daily living

6 Moderately frail—help is needed with both instrumental and non-instrumental activities of daily living

7 Severely frail—completely dependent on others for the activities of daily living, or terminally ill