Fr-AGILE: validation and reliability of a multidimensional and rapid frailty assessment tool in the Turkish elderly population


Ileri Istanbullu E., Selvi Oztorun H., Demirel E., Tuna Dogrul R., Arik G., Uygun Ilikhan S., ...More

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, vol.37, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 37 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s40520-025-03200-7
  • Journal Name: Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, AgeLine, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE
  • Keywords: Comprehensive geriatric assessment, Fr-AGILE, Frailty, Geriatrics, Older adults, Sarcopenia, Validation study
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Purpose: With the global aging population, the prevalence of frailty is increasing, making its timely and accurate identification critical for prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Fr-AGILE scale—a rapid, multidimensional frailty assessment tool—for use in the Turkish geriatric population. Methods: A total of 101 individuals aged 65 and over who visited a geriatric outpatient clinic were enrolled. All participants were assessed using the Fr-AGILE scale, alongside the FRAIL and Clinical Frailty Score as reference standards. Results: The Fr-AGILE scale demonstrated a sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 94.1%. Its positive predictive value was 83.3%, and the negative predictive value was 56.1%. High inter-rater reliability was observed, with substantial agreement in the physical, mental, and nutritional domains, and excellent agreement in the socioeconomic domain. Internal consistency coefficients were strong across all domains. The Fr-AGILE score showed significant correlations with the FRAIL scale (r = 0.742), Clinical Frailty Score(r = 0.732), and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment with an AUC of 0.906 for severe frailty (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Fr-AGILE scale is a valid and reliable tool for rapid, multidimensional frailty assessment in older adults. It provides a practical and efficient method for identifying frailty across physical, mental, nutritional, and socioeconomic domains in Turkish geriatric patients.