WP4 Knowing frailty at individual levelKnowing frailty at individual level

The main focus of WP4 ‘Knowing frailty at individual level’ is to define and standardize the assessment of frailty as a unique clinical entity at individual level in different care settings, by developing a common methodology to define, screen and diagnose this condition, in order to identify the most vulnerable adults.

In addition, WP4 will assess the association of chronic diseases (CD) and frailty. These conditions in fact, are often used interchangeably to identify vulnerable older adults. However, they are distinct clinical entities that occur frequently and have important clinical consequences.

There is a need to distinguish between them, as frailty offers the best predictor of possible compromised function and therefore of future good or poor quality of life.

Tasks for the WP4 Team include the following:

– Define frailty by reviewing a) the scientific literature (building on previous work and results from EIP AHA and EU funded related projects; b) ongoing initiatives focused on frailty in the participant MSs;
– review the current screening and diagnostic tools for frailty, based on existing literature, and building on the results of the EIP AHA work;
– identify clinical aspects of frailty, to assess patterns of multimorbidity and their interactions in the development and progression of frailty;
– assess the impact of frailty in the outcome of chronic diseases and long term care conditions;

WP4 results will be discussed in an Expert Panel (EP) meeting to draw conclusions and refine content. Following the EP comments, a state of the art report (SoAR) on frailty knowledge at individual level, including a definition of frailty, and a preliminary background situation in participant MSs will be finalised. The SoAR will be subsequently incorporated into the final Frailty Prevention Approach (FPA) document.