FNIH Approach to an Older Adult with Poor Physical Function

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) reported an initial approach to an older adult with poor physical function

Patient selection: older adult >= 65 years with poor physical function

Parameters:

(1) presence of muscle weakness

(2) presence of low muscle mass

Muscle Weakness	Low Muscle Mass	Look For
no	NA	non-muscle causes of poor performance
yes	yes	causes of low muscle mass
yes	no	causes of weakness other than low muscle mass

Handgrip strength adjusted for age, sex and BMI can be used to identify weakness.

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