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Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The Fried frailty phenotype is a widely used biologic frailty framework based on five criteria: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness (usually grip strength), slowness (usually gait speed), and low physical activity. Scores range from 0 to 5, where 0 indicates robust status, 1-2 indicates pre-frailty, and 3-5 indicates frailty. It is commonly used in geriatric medicine, epidemiologic studies, and preoperative risk assessment.
Formula: Fried frailty score = sum of 5 phenotype criteria (0 or 1 each), range 0-5.
Higher Fried scores indicate increasing frailty phenotype burden and higher risk of falls, disability, hospitalization, and mortality.
Use for older adults in clinic, research, perioperative workup, and longitudinal monitoring where phenotype-based frailty stratification is needed.
Operational definitions for weakness/slowness can vary by reference cutoffs and measurement methods, affecting comparability across settings.
For related assessments, see FRAIL Scale, Clinical Frailty Scale and SPPB Score.
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.
Screen frailty using the 5-item FRAIL scale (Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, Loss of weight).
GeriatricsAssess 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.
GeriatricsEstimate lower-extremity functional performance with SPPB total score (0-12) from balance, gait speed, and chair stands.
GeriatricsAssess mobility and fall risk with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. TUG >12 seconds indicates high fall risk. Times the performance of standing, walking 3 meters, turning, and returning to seated.