Loading...
Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Electronic Frailty Index (eFI) is a deficit-accumulation frailty measure typically derived from electronic health record coding. It reflects the proportion of predefined health deficits present and supports population-level risk stratification and proactive care planning in older adults. Common thresholds categorize patients as fit, mildly frail, moderately frail, or severely frail.
Formula: eFI = number of deficits present / number of deficits considered; category by threshold bands.
The eFI was developed from routine primary-care EHR data using a cumulative-deficit model with categorical frailty bands.
Higher eFI values indicate greater cumulative frailty burden and support more proactive multidisciplinary care planning.
Use in primary care and health-system workflows for risk stratification, case-finding, and longitudinal frailty monitoring in older adults.
Performance depends on coding quality and deficit definitions; eFI may under- or over-estimate frailty when records are incomplete or inconsistently coded.
For related assessments, see Clinical Frailty Scale, FRAIL Scale and HFRS.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
Assess frailty using the Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS 1–9): Very Fit to Terminally Ill. Used for ICU triage, surgical risk stratification, and goals-of-care discussions in elderly patients.
GeriatricsScreen frailty using the 5-item FRAIL scale (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, Loss of weight).
GeriatricsClassify hospital frailty risk category from HFRS value (<5 low, 5-15 intermediate, >15 high).
GeriatricsScreen frailty with the 7-item PRISMA-7 questionnaire (score 0-7; >=3 suggests frailty risk).