Components and Indicators of Frailty Measures: A Literature Review

Background: Frailty is a debilitating condition in older adults that is associated with increased risks for adverse outcomes. However, the issue of quantifying frailty remains elusive. There is a lack of consistency in the frailty components and the corresponding indicators used to quantify these components.

Objective: 1) to describe the components of frailty and examine the existing measures of frailty; and 2) to identify current gaps in knowledge of frailty measures.

Methods: The PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched. Each study was reviewed to determine its fit with inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results: A total of 49 studies were identified and comprised the sample. Each study described one unique measure of frailty. The frailty components and corresponding indicators within three domains (physical, psychological, and social) were described. The most frequently reported components of frailty were mobility and balance, nutrition, and cognitive function. Fifteen of 49 frailty measures included components across all three domains. Current frailty measures were critiqued and important areas for future study are identified.

Conclusions: The frailty components and corresponding indicators vary considerably across different frailty measures. Future studies are needed to address inconsistences in frailty measures and models.