Summary Frailty is a central concept in geriatric medicine, but without a clear definition. Many regard it as a syndrome with its own clinical manifestations and pathophysiology, whilst others consider it to be the result of the accumulation of age-related deficits that predict adverse changes in health. We analysed, through a systematic review, the definitions and markers of the frailty syndrome. Twenty-five articles were included and divided, according to design, into observational, intervention, review and qualitative studies. There was a predominance of operational definitions that used only physical markers to identify frailty. The only qualitative study found that health professionals chose a multidimensional definition that took into account factors other than just the physical. We conclude that there is still no standard definition or agreement about markers of the frailty syndrome. © Cambridge University Press 2010.
CITATION STYLE
Borges, L. L., & Menezes, R. L. (2011). Definitions and markers of frailty: A systematic review of literature. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 21(1), 67–77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959259810000304
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.