Table 1.
Summary of main scales used in geriatric evaluation
| Comorbidities | |
| Charlson comorbidity index [16] | Age (years old) |
| 50–59 (1 point) | |
| 60–69 (2 points) | |
| 70–79 (3 points) | |
| ≥ 80 (4 points) | |
| Diabetes | |
| Uncomplicated (1 point) | |
| End-organ damage (2 points) | |
| Liver disease | |
| Mild (1 point) | |
| Moderate to severe (3 points) | |
| Malignancy | |
| Any leukemia, lymphoma or localized solid tumor (2 points) | |
| Metastatic solid tumor (6 points) | |
| AIDS (6 points) | |
| Moderate-to-severe renal disease (2 points) | |
| Congestive heart failure (1 point) | |
| Myocardial infarction (1 point) | |
| Chronic pulmonary disease (1 point) | |
| Peripheral vascular disease (1 point) | |
| Cerebrovascular disease (1 point) | |
| Dementia (1 point) | |
| Hemiplegia (2 points) | |
| Connective tissue disease (1 point) | |
| Peptic ulcer disease (1 point) | |
| Functional autonomy | |
| ADL scale [30] | Bathing (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) |
| Dressing (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) | |
| Toileting (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) | |
| Transfer (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) | |
| Continence (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) | |
| Feeding (independent: 1 point; partially dependent: 0,5 point; totally dependent: 0 point) | |
| Scale from 0 (totally dependent) to 6 (independent) | |
| IADL scale [31] | Ability to use telephone |
| Operates telephone on own initiative; looks up and dials numbers (1 point) | |
| Dials a few well-known numbers (1 point) | |
| Answers telephone, but does not dial (1 point) | |
| Does not use telephone at all (0 point) | |
| Shopping | |
| Takes care of all shopping needs independently (1 point) | |
| Shops independently for small purchases (0 point) | |
| Needs to be accompanied on any shopping trip (0 point) | |
| Completely unable to shop (0 point) | |
| Food preparation | |
| Plans, prepares and serves adequate meals independently (1 point) | |
| Prepares adequate meals if supplied with ingredients (0 point) | |
| Heats and serves prepared meals or prepares meals but does not maintain adequate diet (0 point) | |
| Needs to have meals prepared and served (0 point) | |
| Housekeeping | |
| Maintains house alone with occasion assistance (heavy work) (1 point) | |
| Performs light daily tasks such as dishwashing, bed making (1 point) | |
| Performs light daily tasks, but cannot maintain acceptable level of cleanliness (1 point) | |
| Needs help with all home maintenance tasks (1 point) | |
| Does not participate in any housekeeping tasks (0 point) | |
| Laundry | |
| Does personal laundry completely (1 point) | |
| Launders small items, rinses socks, stockings, etc. (1 point) | |
| All laundry must be done by others (0 point) | |
| Mode of transportation | |
| Travels independently on public transportation or drives own car (1 point) | |
| Arranges own travel via taxi, but does not otherwise use public transportation (1 point) | |
| Travels on public transportation when assisted or accompanied by another (1 point) | |
| Travel limited to taxi or automobile with assistance of another (0 point) | |
| Does not travel at all (0 point) | |
| Responsibility for own medications | |
| Is responsible for taking medication in correct dosages at correct time (1 point) | |
| Takes responsibility if medication is prepared in advance in separate dosages (0 point) | |
| Is not capable of dispensing own medication (0 point) | |
| Ability to handle finances | |
| Manages financial matters independently (budgets, writes checks, pays rent and bills, goes to bank); collects and keeps track of income (1 point) | |
| Manages day-to-day purchases, but needs help with banking, major purchases, etc. (1 point) | |
| Incapable of handling money (0 point) | |
| Scale from 0 (low function/dependent) to 8 (high function/independent) | |
| Frailty | |
| Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale [36] | 1. Very fit—People who are robust, active, energetic and motivated. These people commonly exercise regularly. They are among the fittest for their age |
| 2. Well—People who have no active disease symptoms but are less fit than category 1. Often, they exercise or are very active occasionally, e.g., seasonally | |
| 3. Managing well—People whose medical problems are well controlled, but are not regularly active beyond routine walking | |
| 4. Vulnerable—While not dependent on others for daily help, often symptoms limit activities. A common complaint is being “slowed up,” and/or being tired during the day | |
| 5. Mildly frail—These people often have more evident slowing and need help in high-order IADLs (finances, transportation, heavy housework, medications). Typically, mild frailty progressively impairs shopping and walking outside alone, meal preparation and housework | |
| 6. Moderately frail—People need help with all outside activities and with keeping house. Inside, they often have problems with stairs and need help with bathing and might need minimal assistance (cuing, standby) with dressing | |
| 7. Severely frail—Completely dependent for personal care, from whatever cause (physical or cognitive). Even so, they seem stable and not at high risk of dying (within ~ 6 months) | |
| 8. Very severely frail—Completely dependent, approaching the end of life. Typically, they could not recover even from a minor illness | |
| 9. Terminally ill—Approaching the end of life. This category applies to people with a life expectancy | |
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, ADL activity of daily living, IADL Instrumental Activities of Daily Living