Frailty – What is it, and why should you care? Dr Zoe Wyrko Consultant Geriatrician University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Founda@on Trust #G4J14 @ElderlyMedEd “a clinically recognizable state of increased vulnerability resul@ng from aging-­‐associated decline in reserve and func@on across mul@ple physiologic systems such that the ability to cope with everyday or acute stressors is comprised” Types of Frailty Phenotype theory •  Freid – 
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Low grip strength Low energy Slow walking speed Low physical ac@vity Uninten@onal weight loss Deficit Accumula<on •  Rockwood – 
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Symptoms Signs Diseases Disabili@es –  Leading to a frailty index Learning points • 
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Frailty is not simple to define It is phenomenally important You don’t get frail just because you get old Not all thin older people are frail You can be fat and frail •  Watch this space Resources •  www.frailsafe.org.uk •  Fit for Frailty hYp://www.bgs.org.uk/index.php/
resources-­‐6/bgscampaigns/fit-­‐for-­‐frailty •  Clegg A, Young J. Frailty in elderly people. The Lancet 2013; 381:752-­‐762 •  And of course … aeme.org.uk