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 .
Prognostic significance of potential frailty criteria.
OBJECTIVES To determine the independent prognostic effect of seven potential frailty criteria , including five from the Fried phenotype , on several adverse outcomes . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . SETTING Greater New Haven , Connecticut . PARTICIPANTS Seven hundred fifty-four initially nondisabled , community-living persons aged 70 and older . MEASUREMENTS An assessment of seven potential frailty criteria ( slow gait speed , low physical activity , weight loss , exhaustion , weakness , cognitive impairment , and depressive symptoms ) was completed at baseline and every 18 months for 72 months . Participants were followed with monthly telephone interviews for up to 96 months to determine the occurrence of chronic disability , long-term nursing home ( NH ) stays , injurious falls , and death . RESULTS In analyses adjusted for age , sex , race , education , number of chronic conditions , and the presence of the other potential frailty criteria , three of the five Fried criteria ( slow gait speed , low physical activity , and weight loss ) were independently associated with chronic disability , long-term NH stays , and death . Slow gait speed was the strongest predictor of chronic disability ( hazard ratio (HR)=2.97 , 95 % confidence interval (CI)=2.32 - 3.80 ) and long-term NH stay ( HR=3.86 , 95 % CI=2.23 - 6.67 ) and was the only significant predictor of injurious falls ( HR=2.19 , 95 % CI=1.33 - 3.60 ) . Cognitive impairment was also associated with chronic disability ( HR=1.82 , 95 % CI=1.40 - 2.38 ) , long-term NH stay ( HR=2.64 , 95 % CI=1.75 - 3.99 ) , and death ( HR=1.54 , 95 % CI=1.13 - 2.10 ) , and the magnitude of these associations was comparable with that of weight loss . CONCLUSION The results of this study provide strong evidence to support the use of slow gait speed , low physical activity , weight loss , and cognitive impairment as key indicators of frailty while raising concerns about the value of self-reported exhaustion and muscle weakness
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 .