Frailty syndrome and nutritional status: Assessment, prevention and treatment

Abstract

Frailty is a medical, dynamic and multifactorial syndrome characterised by a decreased functional reserve and an increased vulnerability to suffer adverse events. It is a different concept than comorbidity and disability and is potentially reversible. Assessment is also multifactorial and measurements of functional capacity, as gait velocity and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), are very useful in the diagnostic process and in the monitoring treatment’s efficacy. It is important to perform a malnutrition screening, nutritional and cognitive assessment and a review of polypharmacy. Interventions should be also multifactorial; the combination of an individual multicomponent exercise program and nutritional targeted intervention seem to be the most effective.