Electronic_Frailty_Index v.1
The Electronic Frailty Index: (eFI) helps to provide a prediction of adverse outcomes for older patients within a primary care setting helping to plan management.
The Electronic Frailty Index: (eFI) helps to provide a prediction of adverse outcomes for older patients within a primary care setting helping to plan management.
There are 36 variables or deficits presented as Yes/No questions such as clinical signs, symptoms, diseases, disabilities and abnormal test values. The index is based on the fraction of variables responded to as YES over the total number of variables. This fraction produces a FI score where higher scores relate to higher frailty levels and an increasing risk of adverse outcomes. The deficits are made up of 2000 read codes as shown in table 1 in the appendix of the paper (1) A score > 0.36 relates to a 6 times higher risk of being admitted into a care home in the next 12 months as well as a 5 times risk of mortality. The scores can be categorised as shown: Fit (eFI score 0 - 0.12) – People who have no or few long-term conditions that are usually well controlled. This group would mainly be independent in day to day living activities. Mild frailty (eFI score 0.13 –0.24) – People who are slowing up in older age and may need help with personal activities of daily living such as finances, shopping, transportation. Moderate Frailty (eFI score 0.25 –0.36) – People who have difficulties with outdoor activities and may have mobility problems or require help with activites such as washing and dressing. Severe Frailty (eFI score > 0.36) – People who are often dependent for personal care and have a range of long-term conditions/multimorbidity. Some of this group may be medically stable but others can be unstable and at risk of dying within 6 -12 months.
Do not rely only on this tool for the purposes of definitive diagnosis without also supplementary clinical evidence.
1) Improvement Academy published document on Health Ageing with a description on the Electronic Frailty Index (eFI). Accessed at: http://www.improvementacademy.org/documents/Projects/healthy_ageing/eFI%20Guidance%20SystmOne%20Notes%20for%20HAC%20Partners.pdf [Accessed on: 12/10/17]
OBSERVATION.electronic_frailty_index.v1, EVALUATION.electronic_frailty_index_assessment.v1
