Evaluation and management of frailty

ABSTRACT

Physical frailty is a state in which the functional capacity of various organs in the body drops below a certain level, making an individual vulnerable to a variety of stresses; as a result, frail individuals are more likely to experience geriatric diseases, falls, decreased activities of daily living, disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Comprehensive assessments for frail patients are needed, but a simple and rapid screening test such as the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss of weight) scale can be used in busy outpatient clinics. Physical frailty can be reversible and preventable. Frailty can potentially be prevented or treated with specific modalities, such as exercise, protein-calorie supplementation, vitamin D, and reducing polypharmacy.