Table 1

Health Variables and Cut-points for the Frailty Index

List of 40 Variables included in the frailty index
Cut Point

Help Bathing
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Dressing
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help getting in/out of Chair
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Walking around house
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Eating
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Grooming
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Using Toilet
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help up/down Stairs
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help lifting 10 lbs
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help Shopping
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help with Housework
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help with meal Preparations
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help taking Medication
Yes = 1, No = 0
Help with Finances
Yes = 1, No = 0
Lost more than 10 lbs in last year
Yes = 1, No = 0
Self Rating of Health
Poor = 1, Fair = 0.75, Good = 0.5, V. Good = 0.25, Excellent = 0
How Health has changed in last year
Worse = 1, Better/Same = 0
Stayed in Bed at least half the day due to health (in last month)
Yes = 1, No = 0
Cut down on Usual Activity (in last month)
Yes = 1, No = 0
Walk outside
<3 days = 1, ≤ 3 days = 0
Feel Everything is an Effort
Most of time = 1, Some time = 0.5, Rarely = 0
Feel Depressed
Most of time = 1, Some time = 0.5, Rarely = 0
Feel Happy
Most of time = 0, Some time = 0.5, Rarely = 1
Feel Lonely
Most of time = 1, Some time = 0.5, Rarely = 0
Have Trouble getting going
Most of time = 1, Some time = 0.5, Rarely = 0
High blood pressure
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Heart attack
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
CHF
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Stroke
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Cancer
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Diabetes
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Arthritis
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
Chronic Lung Disease
Yes = 1, Suspect = 0.5, No = 0
MMSE
<10 = 1, 11–17 = 0.75, 18–20 = 0.5, 20–24 = 0.25, >24 = 0
Peak Flow
See Table 2
Shoulder Strength
See Table 2
BMI
See Table 2
Grip Strength
See Table 2
Usual Pace
See Table 2
Rapid Pace
See Table 2

The list of health deficit variables included in the FI and how they were coded as deficits.

Searle et al. BMC Geriatrics 2008 8:24   doi:10.1186/1471-2318-8-24