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Use of a questionnaire to screen for frailty in the elderly: An exploratory study

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Abstract

Background and aims: In a pilot study of community-dwelling geriatric clinic patients (N=48, aged 63–90) we examined the use of a questionnaire to classify frailty status by comparing it with standardized markers of frailty. The questionnaire, developed by Strawbridge et al. in 1998, defines frailty as difficulty in more than one of four domains of functioning: physical, cognitive, sensory, and nutritive. Methods: Subjects were classified as frail or not frail by questionnaire and assignment was compared with testing of physical and cognitive measures in cross-sectional analysis. Demographic variables, functional inventories, physical activity levels, clinician impression of frailty, and 3-year health outcomes were also examined. Results: Thirty-three percent of subjects were classified as frail. Frailty classification by the Strawbridge questionnaire was correlated to Timed Up and Go and repetitive Sit-to-Stand tests, bimanual dexterity and cognitive tests. A discrepancy was found between assignment of cognitive difficulty, by questionnaire and cognitive performance. When overall Strawbridge frailty scores were modified to account for those with poor cognitive performance who did not report cognitive difficulty, the prevalence of frailty increased to 42%. At 3-year follow-up, the modified Strawbridge frailty classification (p<0.05) and clinician impression of frailty (p<0.01) were both significant predictors of death and institution-alization combined. Conclusions: This study serves as an initial inquiry into the potential validity and utility of the Strawbridge frailty questionnaire as a simple screening tool to identify patients who may warrant detailed functional testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Carolina School of Medicine/Division of Geriatrics and Palmetto Health Alliance, Columbia, SC

    Margaret Matthews MD, PhD, Amy Lucas, Rebecca Boland, Victor Hirth, Darryl Wieland & G. Paul Eleazer

  2. Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK

    Germaine Odenheimer

  3. Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina School of Public Health, Columbia, SC, USA

    Harriet Williams

Authors
  1. Margaret Matthews MD, PhD
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  2. Amy Lucas
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  3. Rebecca Boland
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  4. Victor Hirth
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  5. Germaine Odenheimer
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  6. Darryl Wieland
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  7. Harriet Williams
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  8. G. Paul Eleazer
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Correspondence to Margaret Matthews MD, PhD.

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Matthews, M., Lucas, A., Boland, R. et al. Use of a questionnaire to screen for frailty in the elderly: An exploratory study. Aging Clin Exp Res 16, 34–40 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324529

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324529

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