<p class="first" id="d18513785e139">Frailty is an emerging global health burden, with
major implications for clinical
practice and public health. The prevalence of frailty is expected to rise alongside
rapid growth in the ageing population. The course of frailty is characterised by a
decline in functioning across multiple physiological systems, accompanied by an increased
vulnerability to stressors. Having frailty places a person at increased risk of adverse
outcomes, including falls, hospitalisation, and mortality. Studies have shown a clear
pattern of increased health-care costs and use associated with frailty. All older
adults are at risk of developing frailty, although risk levels are substantially higher
among those with comorbidities, low socioeconomic position, poor diet, and sedentary
lifestyles. Lifestyle and clinical risk factors are potentially modifiable by specific
interventions and preventive actions. The concept of frailty is increasingly being
used in primary, acute, and specialist care. However, despite efforts over the past
three decades, agreement on a standard instrument to identify frailty has not yet
been achieved. In this Series paper, we provide an overview of the global impact and
burden of frailty, the usefulness of the frailty concept in clinical practice, potential
targets for frailty prevention, and directions that need to be explored in the future.
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