Frailty: A narrative review with a focus on eastern and southeastern Asia

Abstract

Copyright © 2019, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. Frailty is growing into a major public health problem parallel with the demographic change into an ageing society. Frail people have an increased risk of many adverse outcomes and this can lead to disability and mortality. Frailty is reversible and the purpose of clinical care for frail people is to prevent adverse health outcomes and improve overall health and quality of life. To do this, validated frailty assessment tools should be used early within clinical care and they should be followed by evidence-based interventions. An individualized approach including medication review, physical exercise, nutritional management and social support by a multidisciplinary team seems to be the most effective intervention to prevent and treat frailty.