frailty
Pronunciation: FRAYL-tee
A clinical syndrome of decreased physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors in older adults, commonly assessed using standardised frailty scales in geriatric rehabilitation.
Full Definition
Frailty is a clinically recognised syndrome characterised by diminished strength, endurance, and physiological function that increases an individual's vulnerability to developing increased dependency or death. In geriatric rehabilitation, frailty is typically measured using tools such as the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), the Fried Frailty Phenotype, or the Frailty Index. Editors must note that 'frailty' is not synonymous with age, disability, or comorbidity, though these often coexist. The term should be used precisely; vague usage such as 'the patient is frail' without reference to an assessment tool is clinically and editorially insufficient in formal documents. The adjective form is 'frail'; 'frailty syndrome' is acceptable in scientific writing.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use as a synonym for 'elderly', 'weak', or 'disabled'. Reference the specific assessment tool when frailty is described in formal documents. Adjective: 'frail'.
In Context
- "A Clinical Frailty Scale score of 6 indicated severe frailty, informing the intensity of the rehabilitation programme." — Geriatric assessment report
- "Frailty was an independent predictor of prolonged hospital stay in the retrospective cohort analysis." — Geriatric medicine research paper