70-Item Frailty Index of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA)

Patient selection: elderly adult

 

Items:

(1) Changes in everyday activities

(2) Head and neck problems

(3) Poor muscle tone in neck

(4) Bradykinesia, facial

(5) Problems getting dressed

(6) Problems with bathing

(7) Problems carrying out personal grooming

(8) Urinary incontinence

(9) Toileting problems

(10) Bulk difficulties

(11) Rectal problems

(12) Gastrointestinal problems

(13) Problems cooking

(14) Sucking problems

(15) Problems going out alone

(16) Impaired mobility

(17) Musculoskeletal problems

(18) Bradykinesia of the limbs

(19) Poor muscle tone in limbs

(20) Poor limb coordination

(21) Poor coordination, trunk

(22) Poor standing posture

(23) Irregular gait pattern

(24) Falls

(25) Mood problems

(26) Feeling sad, blue, depressed

(27) History of depressed mood

(28) Tiredness all the time

(29) Depression (clinical impression)

(30) Sleep changes

(31) Restlessness

(32) Memory changes

(33) Short-term memory impairment

(34) Long-term memory impairment

(35) Changes in general mental functioning

(36) Onset of cognitive symptoms

(37) Clouding or delirium

(38) Paranoid features

(39) History relevant to cognitive impairment or loss

(40) Family history relevant to cognitive impairment or loss

(41) Impaired vibration

(42) Tremor at rest

(43) Postural tremor

(44) Intention tremor

(45) History of Parkinson’s disease

(46) Family history of degenerative disease

(47) Seizures, partial complex

(48) Seizures, generalized

(49) Syncope or blackouts

(50) Headache

(51) Cerebrovascular problems

(52) History of stroke

(53) History of diabetes mellitus

(54) Arterial hypertension

(55) Peripheral pulses

(56) Cardiac problems

(57) Myocardial infarction

(58) Arrhythmia

(59) Congestive heart failure

(60) Lung problems

(61) Respiratory problems

(62) History of thyroid disease

(63) Thyroid problems

(64) Skin problems

(65) Malignant disease

(66) Breast problems

(67) Abdominal problems

(68) Presence of snout reflex

(69) Presence of the palmomental reflex

(70) Other medical history

 

Scoring can be done in a number of ways:

(1) absent (0) or present (1)

(2) absent (0), minor (0.5), major (1)

(3) none (0), mild (1), moderate (2), severe (3).

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 70 items)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 70

• The higher the score the worse the level of impairment.

 

While the number of items is impressive, equal performance probably can be achieved with a shorter list. Some items are redundant, some are vague and not all items have equal weight.