Función y fragilidad: ¿qué tenemos que medir?

There is fairly widespread agreement on the distinction between frailty and disability. However, there is no validated and widely accepted concept of frailty, a condition that is frequently found in old age and which could constitute the main marker of pathological ageing. Given the absence of biological markers with good sensitivity and specificity that could be applied in practice, current approaches attempt to delimit the clinical manifestations that define vulnerable elderly individuals with a high risk of developing serious adverse events, including dependence, hospitalization, institutionalization, and death. Although the origin of frailty is multifactorial, its manifestations probably converge in an alteration in physical functioning. Early identification of the signs and symptoms related to this deterioration would contribute to the early detection of frail elderly individuals who could benefit from primary and secondary prevention, thus reducing or delaying the development of the above- mentioned adverse effects.