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Measuring frailty in younger populations: a rapid review of evidence

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gemma Frances SpiersORCiD, Patience KunongaORCiD, Fiona Beyer, Emeritus Professor Stuart ParkerORCiD, Professor Dawn CraigORCiD, Professor Barbara Hanratty

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Objectives Frailty is typically assessed in older populations. Identifying frailty in adults aged under 60 years may also have value, if it supports the delivery of timely care. We sought to identify how frailty is measured in younger populations, including evidence of the impact on patient outcomes and care.Design A rapid review of primary studies was conducted.Data sources Four databases, three sources of grey literature and reference lists of systematic reviews were searched in March 2020.Eligibility criteria Eligible studies measured frailty in populations aged under 60 years using experimental or observational designs, published after 2000 in English.Data extraction and synthesis Records were screened against review criteria. Study data were extracted with 20% of records checked for accuracy by a second researcher. Data were synthesised using a narrative approach.Results We identified 268 studies that measured frailty in samples that included people aged under 60 years. Of these, 85 studies reported evidence about measure validity. No measures were identified that were designed and validated to identify frailty exclusively in younger groups. However, in populations that included people aged over and under 60 years, cumulative deficit frailty indices, phenotype measures, the FRAIL Scale, the Liver Frailty Index and the Short Physical Performance Battery all demonstrated predictive validity for mortality and/or hospital admission. Evidence of criterion validity was rare. The extent to which measures possess validity across the younger adult age (18–59 years) spectrum was unclear. There was no evidence about the impact of measuring frailty in younger populations on patient outcomes and care.Conclusions Limited evidence suggests that frailty measures have predictive validity in younger populations. Further research is needed to clarify the validity of measures across the adult age spectrum, and explore the utility of measuring frailty in younger groups.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Spiers GF, Kunonga TP, Hall A, Beyer F, Boulton E, Parker S, Bower P, Craig D, Todd C, Hanratty B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: BMJ Open

Year: 2021

Volume: 11

Online publication date: 22/03/2021

Acceptance date: 03/03/2021

Date deposited: 23/03/2021

ISSN (print): 2044-6055

ISSN (electronic): 2044-6055

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047051

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047051


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

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