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Table 1 Comparing operationalisation of the Hai DSS frailty phenotype with fried’s frailty phenotype

From: The prevalence and characteristics of frailty by frailty phenotype in rural Tanzania

Component measured in both

Hai DSS frailty phenotype

Fried’s frailty phenotype

Weakness (low HGS): Average of three measurements in the dominant hand using the JAMAR hand-held dynamometer.

Frail criterion met if average HGS in the dominant hand <21Kg in males or < 10Kg in females based on the median HGS in African adults aged 61–70: 18 (10–25) women, 30 (21–38) men [21].

Stratified by gender and body mass index (BMI) quartiles:

Men

Cut-off for grip strength (Kg) criterion for frailty

BMI ≤ 24 ≤ 29

BMI 24.1–26 ≤ 30

BMI 26.1–28 ≤ 30

BMI > 28 ≤ 32

Women

BMI ≤ 23 ≤ 17

BMI 23.1–26 ≤ 17.3

BMI 26.1–29 ≤ 18

BMI > 29 ≤ 21

Slow walking speed:

Walking at usual pace, 4.5 m (15 ft) use of walking aid is permitted.

The slowest quintile of the sample’s walking speed was taken as cut-off: ≥11.12 s to walk 4.5 m distance (not stratified by gender or height).

Slowest quintile stratified by gender and height

Men

Height ≤ 173 cm ≥7 s

Height > 173 cm ≥6 s

Women

Height ≤ 159 cm ≥7 s

Height > 159 cm ≥6 s

Self-reported exhaustion:

CES–D Depression Scale questions were used. Frailty criterion if either was felt to be present a “moderate amount of the time” or “most of the time” over the past week.

The CES-D questions were verbatim translated into Swahili by a Tanzanian doctor and statements read aloud and scored in the same manner as the Fried FP.

CES–D Depression Scale questions, the following two statements are read. (a) I felt that everything I did was an effort; (b) I could not get going. Frailty criterion if either was felt to be present a “moderate amount of the time” or “most of the time” over the past week.

Unintentional weight loss:

Has the participant/older person lost weight during the last 3 months? Frailty criterion were met if the participant answered either “yes, more than 3 kg”, or “yes, between 1 and 3 kg”.

“In the last year, have you lost more than 10 pounds unintentionally (i.e., not due to dieting or exercise)?” If yes, then frail for weight loss criterion, OR

≥5% of body weight lost in the past year unintentionally.

Low physical activity

Taken from the IPAQ: “During the last 7 days, on how many days did you do moderate physical activities like gardening, cleaning, bicycling at a regular pace, swimming or other fitness activities?” Those who answered “0”, were categorised as meeting frailty criterion.

Based on the short version of the Minnesota Leisure Time Activity questionnaire Kcals per week expended are calculated using standardized algorithm. This variable is stratified by gender, with frailty criterion met if less than the lowest quintile of energy expended. Men: < 383 Kcals/week

Women: < 270 Kcals/week.