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.