Frailty is a geriatric condition characterized by increased vulnerability, resulting
from aging-associated declines in reserves and function across multiple physiologic
systems, such that the ability to cope with everyday or acute stressors and to maintain
organ systems' homeostasis is comprised. Frailty is associated with both negative
health outcomes and with increased resource use and for this reason its assessment
and treatment are considered to be an essential step to improving the efficiency of
healthcare systems. The identification of older adults who are frail, their assessment
and the implementation of specific interventions to target frailty represent a cornerstone
of geriatric medicine. Despite the fact that the recognition of frailty is increasing
in geriatric settings, several gaps still exist that prevent the translation of the
theoretical concept of frailty into practice.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 07, 2016
Accepted:
March 18,
2016
Received in revised form:
March 17,
2016
Received:
March 16,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
