Which statement about frailty screening criteria is true?

Which statement about frailty screening criteria is true?

• A. Frailty requires three criteria including slowness
• B. Frailty uses memory loss as a criterion
• C. Frailty includes only weight loss
• D. Frailty is diagnosed by age alone

Answer: (A)

Frailty screening uses a physical-phenotype approach with five observable criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness (grip strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. A person is considered frail if they meet three or more of these criteria. Slowness (slow gait) is one of the five criteria and must be counted along with the others when determining frailty, which is why the statement that frailty requires three criteria including slowness is the best fit. In practice, someone might have weight loss, exhaustion, and slow walking speed, which would classify as frail. Memory loss isn’t part of this frailty definition, frailty isn’t diagnosed by weight loss alone, and age by itself does not determine frailty.

Frailty screening uses a physical-phenotype approach with five observable criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness (grip strength), slow walking speed, and low physical activity. A person is considered frail if they meet three or more of these criteria. Slowness (slow gait) is one of the five criteria and must be counted along with the others when determining frailty, which is why the statement that frailty requires three criteria including slowness is the best fit. In practice, someone might have weight loss, exhaustion, and slow walking speed, which would classify as frail. Memory loss isn’t part of this frailty definition, frailty isn’t diagnosed by weight loss alone, and age by itself does not determine frailty.