Rolfson et al reported the Edmonton Frail Score (EFS) as a means of evaluating an older adult for frailty. The authors are from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and Dalhousie University.
Parameters:
(1) cognition (clock drawing with hands showing ten after eleven)
(2) general health status
(2a) hospital admissions in past year
(2b) self-description of health
(3) functional independence in 8 activities of daily living (meal preparation, shopping, transportation, telephone, housekeeping, laundry, managing money, taking medications)
(4) social support (someone you can count on if help needed)
(5) medication use
(5a) 5 or more different medications taken regularly
(5b) ever forget to take medications
(6) nutrition (recent weight loss related to reduced food intake)
(7) mood (feel sad or depressed)
(8) continence with urine
(9) functional performance (stand up from chair, walk 3 meters, return and sit down)
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
clock drawing |
no errors |
0 |
|
minor spacing errors |
1 |
|
other errors |
2 |
hospital admissions |
0 |
0 |
|
1 or 2 |
1 |
|
3 or more |
2 |
general health |
excellent, very good or good |
0 |
|
fair |
1 |
|
poor |
2 |
need help with ADL |
0 or 1 |
0 |
|
2 to 4 |
1 |
|
5 to 8 |
2 |
social support |
always |
0 |
|
sometimes |
1 |
|
never |
2 |
>=5 medications |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1 |
forget to take meds |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1 |
recent weight loss |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1 |
sad or depressed |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1 |
time to complete |
<= 10 seconds |
0 |
|
11 to 20 seconds |
1 |
|
> 20 seconds |
2 |
|
needs help |
2 |
|
unwilling to try |
2 |
total score =
= SUM(all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• miimum score: 0
• maximum score: 17
• The higher the score the greater the risk of being considered frail.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation