The Kihon checklist can be used to screen an older adult for frailty. Kihon in Japanese means basic or fundamental.
Patient selection: elderly adult
Questions:
(1) able to go by train or bus by self
(2) able to go shopping to buy daily necessities by self
(3) able to manage own deposits and savings at the bank
(4) able to visit friends sometimes
(5) turn to family or friends for advice
(6) able to climb stairs without using the handrail or wall for support
(7) able to stand up from a chair without any aids
(8) able to walk continuously for 15 minutes
(9) had a fall in the past year
(10) have fear of falling when walking
(11) lost 2 kg in the past 6 months
(12) BMI < 18.5 kg per square meter
(13) any difficulty eating tough foods compared to 6 months ago
(14) choked on tea or soup recently
(15) experience dry mouth
(16) go out at least once a week
(17) go out less frequently compared to last year
(18) family or friends point out memory loss
(19) make a call by looking up phone numbers
(20) not know today's date
(21) felt a lack of fulfillment in daily life during the past 2 weeks
(22) felt a lack of joy when doing things that you usually enjoy during the past 2 weeks
(23) felt difficulty doing what could be done easily before during the past 2 weeks
(24) felt helpless during the past 2 weeks
(25) felt tired without a reason during the past 2 weeks
where:
• Question 19 (phone call) implies that the person cannot remember phone numbers. If this is the correct interpretation, then point assignment should be reversed.
|
Questions |
Response |
Points |
|
1 to 8 |
no |
1 |
|
|
yes |
0 |
|
9 to 15 |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
16 |
no |
1 |
|
|
yes |
0 |
|
17 to 18 |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
|
19 |
no |
1 |
|
|
yes |
0 |
|
20 to 25 |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
1 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all of the questions)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 25
• The higher the score the greater the risk of frailty.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
