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. 2017 Feb 8;12:293–304. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S124342

Table 1.

Operationalization of the 41-item frailty index (FI)

Item Cutoff point CGA domain to which the item corresponds
1. Cognition problem Dementia =1, mild cognitive impairment, no dementia =0.5, no cognitive impairment =0 Cognition
2. Emotion problem GDS >10=1, 5–10=0.5, 0–4=0 Emotion
3. Impaired vision Yes =1, no =0 Communication
4. Impaired hearing Yes =1, no =0 Communication
5. Speaking difficulty Yes =1, no =0 Communication
6. Mobility difficulty TUG>19=1, 10–19=0.5, <10=0 Mobility
7. History of falls More than yearly falls =1, less than yearly falls =0.5, no falls =0 Balance
8. Urinary incontinence Yes =1, catheter =1, no =0 Bladder function
9. Bowel incontinence Yes =1, no =0 Bowel function
10. Help with meal preparation Yes =1, no =0 IADL
11. Help with ordinary housework Yes =1, no =0 IADL
12. Help with managing finances Yes =1, no =0 IADL
13. Help with managing medications Yes =1, no =0 IADL
14. Help with phone use Yes =1, no =0 IADL
15. Help with shopping Yes =1, no =0 IADL
16. Help with transportation Yes =1, no =0 IADL
17. Help with mobility in bed Yes =1, no =0 ADL
18. Help with transfer Yes =1, no =0 ADL
19. Help with locomotion inside and outside the home Yes =1, no =0 ADL
20. Help with dressing Yes =1, no =0 ADL
21. Help with eating Yes =1, no =0 ADL
22. Help with toilet use Yes =1, no =0 ADL
23. Help with personal hygiene Yes =1, no =0 ADL
24. Help with bathing Yes =1, no =0 ADL
25. Weight loss >5% weight change =1, 0.5%–5% weight change =0.5, stable weight =0 Nutrition
26. Self-rating of health Poor =1, fair =0.75, good =0.25, very good to excellent =0 Self-rating of health
27. Heart attack Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
28. Congestive heart failure Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
29. Peripheral vascular disease Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
30. Stroke Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
31. Cancer Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
32. Diabetes mellitus Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
33. Arthritis Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
34. Chronic lung disease Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
35. Kidney disease Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
36. Constipation Yes =1, no =0 Comorbidity
37 and 38. Other medical problems None =0, maximum =2 Comorbidity
39. Anxiety Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
40. Alcohol use Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity
41. Other psychiatric illness Yes =1, suspect =0.5, no =0 Comorbidity

Abbreviations: CGA, comprehensive geriatric assessment; GDS, Geriatric Depression Scale; TUG, Timed Up and Go Test; IADL, instrumental activities of daily living; ADL, activities of daily living.