Table 1.
Variables and cut-points for the Frailty Index
| Variables | Coding |
|---|---|
| Cognition and autonomy | |
| Cognitive assessment (MoCA score) | Cut-points according to age and socio-cultural level (GRECOGVASC): Preservation = 0, Fragility = 1 (MoCA score < − 1 SD) [14, 15] |
| Processing speed assessment (Coding score) | Cut-points according to age (WAIS-IV): Preservation = 0, Fragility = 1 (Coding score < − 1 SD) [16, 17] |
| Autonomy assessment (4-item IADL score) | < 1 = 0, ≥ 1 = 1 [18] |
| Able to manage his/her daily life if alone for 15 days | Yes = 0, No = 1 |
| Dietetics | |
| Overall nutritional intakes | Sufficient = 0, Insufficient = 1 |
| Calcium intakes | Sufficient = 0, Insufficient = 1 |
| Protein intakes | Sufficient = 0, Insufficient = 1 |
| Physical activity and risk of falling | |
| Marshall physical activity assessment score | ≥ 4 = 0, < 4 = 1 [19] |
| One or more falls in the past year | No = 0, Yes = 1 |
| Gait speed test (4-m) | ≥ 1 m/s = 0, < 1 m/s = 1 [20] |
| Handgrip strength test | Men: ≥ 30 kg = 0, < 30 kg = 1; Women: ≥ 20 kg = 0, < 20 kg = 1 [21] |
| Comorbidities | |
| Cardiovascular disease | No = 0, Yes = 1 (History of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, angina or arteritis of the lower limbs) |
| Other heart disease | No = 0, Yes = 1 (History of arrhythmia or valvular heart disease) |
| High blood pressure | No = 0, Yes = 1 (SBP > 140 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg or history of HBP) |
| Diabetes | No = 0, Yes = 1 (HbA1c > 6.5% or history of diabetes) |
| Dyslipidaemia | No = 0, Yes = 1 (Total cholesterol ≥2 g/l or triglycerides ≥1.5 g/l or history of dyslipidaemia) |
| Cancer | No = 0, Yes = 1 |
| Airway obstruction | No = 0, Yes = 1 (FEV1/FVC < 0.7 or history of COPD) [22] |
| Thyroid disease | No = 0, Yes = 1 (Abnormal hs-TSH according to laboratory standards or history of thyroid disease) |
| Vision disease | No = 0, Yes = 1 (History of cataract, glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration) |
| Anxiety | HAD < 8 = 0, HAD ≥8 and < 11 = 0.5, HAD ≥11 = 1 [23] |
| Depression | HAD < 8 = 0, HAD ≥8 and < 11 = 0.5, HAD ≥11 = 1 [23] |
| Regular treatment | No = 0, Yes = 1 |
| Functional signs | |
| Chronic sleep disorders | No = 0, Yes = 1 (Any disorder during at least 3 nights per week, for at least 3 months, despite habits and conditions suitable for sleep) |
| Difficulty retaining urine | No = 0, Yes = 1 |
| Lab values and paraclinical examinations | |
| Anaemia | No = 0, Yes = 1 (Hb < 13.5 g/100 ml in men, Hb < 12.5 g/100 ml in women) |
| Elevated hs-CRP | No = 0, Yes = 1 (> 3 mg/l) [24] |
| Elevated liver enzymes (ALAT, ASAT or GGT) | No = 0, Yes = 1 (According to laboratory standards) |
| Body mass index | BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2 and < 25 kg/m2 = 0, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and < 30 kg/m2 = 0.5, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 or ≥ 30 kg/m2 = 1 [25] |
| Pure tone audiometry | PTA4 ≤ 25 dB in each ear = 0, PTA4 > 25 dB in at least one ear = 1 [26] |
| Hip bone mineral density | Normal (T-score > − 1) = 0, Osteopenia (T-score = [− 1, − 2.5[) = 0.5, Osteoporosis (T-score ≤ − 2.5) = 1 [27] |
| Lumbar spine bone mineral density | Normal (T-score > − 1) = 0, Osteopenia (T-score = [− 1, − 2.5[) = 0.5, Osteoporosis (T-score ≤ − 2.5) = 1 [27] |
| Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry | Normal = 0, Sarcopenia = 1 (aLM/Ht2 ≤ 7.23 kg/m2 in men, ≤ 5.67 kg/m2 in women) (20) |
| Electrocardiogram | No or minor anomalies = 0, Anomalies = 1 |
MoCA Montreal Cognitive Assessment, GRECOGVASC Groupe de Réflexion pour l’Évaluation COGnitive Vasculaire, SD Standard deviation, WAIS-IV Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4th edition, IADL Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, HBP High Blood Pressure, SBP Systolic Blood Pressure, DBP Diastolic Blood Pressure, HbA1c Haemoglobin a1c Protein, FEV1 Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, FVC Forced Vital Capacity, hs-TSH high-sensitivity Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, HAD Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Hb Haemoglobin, hs-CRP high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, ASAT Aspartame Aminotransferase, ALAT Alanine Aminotransferase, GGT Gamma-GT, BMI Body Mass Index, PTA4 Pure-Tone Average of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kHz, dB Decibel, aLM/Ht2 appendicular fat lean mass/ ht2