Table 2.
Frailty measures used in the included studies.
| Frailty measure | Components | Range and categorisation | Number of included studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frailty phenotype32 | 5 components (unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, low grip strength, slow walking pace, low physical activity) |
1–2 criteria: pre-frail ≥3 criteria: frail |
32 |
| Frailty index68,69 | Count of health-related deficits (≥30, type and number of chosen deficits may vary between studies). Total present divided by number of possible deficits |
Range 0–1 Sometimes categorised (threshold for frailty varies (e.g. 0.2, 0.24) |
5 |
| Kihon checklist70 | Self-administered checklist (components: activities of daily living, exercise, falling, nutrition, oral health, cognition, depression) |
Unweighted sum of components. Range 0–25. Pre-frail (4–7), Frail (≥8) |
4 |
| Clinical frailty scale71 | Clinical tool based on functional status |
Ranges 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill). Some dichotomise as ≥5 = frail |
3 |
| Tilburg frailty indicator72 | 15 questions across 3 domains (physical, psychological and social) Responses combined into unweighted sum |
Range 0–15 ≥5 indicates frailty |
3 |
| FRAIL scale73 | 5 components (weight loss, fatigue, weakness, ambulation, illness/comorbidity) |
1–2 criteria: pre-frail ≥3 criteria: frail |
2 |
| Edmonton frailty scale74 | 9 components: cognition, general health, functional independence, social support, medication, nutrition, mood, continence and functional performance |
Score 0–17. Mild (7–8), moderate (9–10) and severe frailty (≥11) |
2 |
| FiND75 | Self-administered frailty screening tool. 5 items: difficulty walking 400 m, difficulty climbing stairs, weight loss, exhaustion and low physical activity | Classed as disability (difficult walking or climbing stairs), frailty (no difficulty with walking or stairs but other deficits present) or robust (no deficits) | 1 |
| Study of Osteoporotic Fracture frailty indicator76 | 3 components (weight loss, chair stand, exhaustion) |
1 component: pre-frail 2–3 components: frail |
1 |
|
Frailty staging system77 |
7 components (disability, mobility, cognition, vision, hearing, continence, social support) |
Range 0–7. Mild (1) moderate (2–3) or severe frailty (≥4) |
1 |
| Functional geriatric assessment78 | Multidimensional evaluation (physical, mental and functional status, socio/economic resources, environment) |
Scored from −108 to 101 Robust (>50), frail (≤50, ≥10) and very frail (<10) |
1 |
Table adapted from Hanlon et al.14.