Cited by 975Frailty in Older AdultsNutrition and Health in AgingBalance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Comparison of 2 frailty indexes for prediction of falls, disability, fractures, and death in older women

Ensrud, Kristine E.·2008·Archives of Internal Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Frailty, as defined by the index derived from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS index), predicts risk of adverse outcomes in older adults. Use of this index, however, is impractical in clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study in 6701 women 69 years or older to compare the predictive validity of a simple frailty index with the components of weight loss, inability to rise from a chair 5 times without using arms, and reduced energy level (Study of Osteoporotic Fractures [SOF index]) with that of the CHS index with the components of unintentional weight loss, poor grip strength, reduced energy level, slow walking speed, and low level of physical activity. Women were classified as robust, of intermediate status, or frail using each index. Falls were reported every 4 months for 1 year. Disability (> or =1 new impairment in performing instrumental activities of daily living) was ascertained at 4(1/2) years, and fractures and deaths were ascertained during 9 years of follow-up. Area under the curve (AUC) statistics from receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and -2 log likelihood statistics were compared for models containing the CHS index vs the SOF index. RESULTS: Increasing evidence of frailty as defined by either the CHS index or the SOF index was similarly associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Frail women had a higher age-adjusted risk of recurrent falls (odds ratio, 2.4), disability (odds ratio, 2.2-2.8), nonspine fracture (hazard ratio, 1.4-1.5), hip fracture (hazard ratio, 1.7-1.8), and death (hazard ratio, 2.4-2.7) (P < .001 for all models). The AUC comparisons revealed no differences between models with the CHS index vs the SOF index in discriminating falls (AUC = 0.61 for both models; P = .66), disability (AUC = 0.64; P = .23), nonspine fracture (AUC = 0.55; P = .80), hip fracture (AUC = 0.63; P = .64), or death (AUC = 0.72; P = .10). Results were similar when -2 log likelihood statistics were compared. CONCLUSION: The simple SOF index predicts risk of falls, disability, fracture, and death as well as the more complex CHS index and may provide a useful definition of frailty to identify older women at risk of adverse health outcomes in clinical practice.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archinternmed.2007.113

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  • The development of frailty frequently results in a spiral of decline leading to increasing frailty and risk of worsening disability, falls, hospital admission and death.

    “the development of frailty frequently results in a spiral of decline that leads to increasing frailty and risk of worsening disability, falls, admission to hospital and death (94).”

    From Frailty in elderly people (2013) · cites this paper as [94]

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Authors
Ensrud, K. E.
Affiliations
United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
Corresponding author
Ensrud, Kristine E.
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Published
2008-02-25
Volume
168
Issue
4
Pages
382
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2136909785
Cited by
975
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 67 · 2021: 68 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 60 · 2017: 59 · 2016: 75 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 58 · 2012: 54
FWCI
13.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG008415, AG05394, AG 08415, AG-05407)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR035584, AR35583, AR-35584, AR 35582, R01AR035582, R01AR035583)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
Keywords
frailty, frailty index, older women, falls, disability, hip fracture, mortality, predictive validity, weight loss, grip strength, instrumental activities of daily living, physical activity, walking speed, energy levels, frailty assessment tools, osteoporosis risk prediction, mortality risk
MeSH terms
Accidental Falls, Aged, Cause of Death, Female, Persons with Disabilities, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Prospective Studies, Geriatric Assessment, Frail Elderly, Fractures, Bone

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