Conclusions This review shows that physical frailty indicators can predict ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
Slow gait speed and low physical activity/exercise seem to be the most powerful predictors followed by weight loss , lower extremity function , balance , muscle strength , and other indicators .
Nevertheless , our study suggests that monitoring physical frailty indicators in community-dwelling elderly people might be useful to identify elderly people who could benefit from disability prevention programs
Background Disability in Activities of Daily Living ( ADL ) is an adverse outcome of frailty that places a burden on frail elderly people , care providers and the care system .
Knowing which physical frailty indicators predict ADL disability is useful in identifying elderly people who might benefit from an intervention that prevents disability or increases functioning in daily life .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on the predictive value of physical frailty indicators on ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
The development of insidious disability in activities of daily living among community-living older persons.
PURPOSE To determine how often disability in essential activities of daily living develops insidiously , and to evaluate whether the likelihood of insidious disability differs on the basis of physical frailty . METHODS We conducted a prospect i ve study of 754 nondisabled , community-living persons aged 70 years or older . Participants were categorized according to the presence or absence of physical frailty , which was defined on the basis of gait speed . Participants were subsequently followed with monthly telephone interviews for 3 years to determine the occurrence of disability in bathing , dressing , walking , or transferring  , and to ascertain exposure to precipitating events , which included acute hospital admissions and other illnesses , injuries , or problems leading to restricted activity . RESULTS For first episodes of disability , 73 ( 36 % ) of 203 developed insidiously among the 322 participants who were physically frail and 26 ( 18 % ) of 141 developed insidiously among the 432 participants who were not physically frail ( P < 0.001 ) . Physical frailty was the only factor that was associated significantly with the development of insidious disability , with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.4 ( 95 % confidence interval : 1.4 to 4.1 ) . The likelihood that an episode of disability was insidious increased progressively , from 29 % of the 344 first episodes to 65 % of the 155 fourth or higher episodes ( P for trend < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Disability in essential activities of daily living often occurs insidiously , particularly among older persons who are physically frail or who have had prior episodes of disability
Conclusions This review shows that physical frailty indicators can predict ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .
Slow gait speed and low physical activity/exercise seem to be the most powerful predictors followed by weight loss , lower extremity function , balance , muscle strength , and other indicators .
Nevertheless , our study suggests that monitoring physical frailty indicators in community-dwelling elderly people might be useful to identify elderly people who could benefit from disability prevention programs
Background Disability in Activities of Daily Living ( ADL ) is an adverse outcome of frailty that places a burden on frail elderly people , care providers and the care system .
Knowing which physical frailty indicators predict ADL disability is useful in identifying elderly people who might benefit from an intervention that prevents disability or increases functioning in daily life .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review the literature on the predictive value of physical frailty indicators on ADL disability in community-dwelling elderly people .