Frailty is a syndrome characterized by a decreased ability to adapt to stressors, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes (falls, hospitalizations, death, etc.). There can be many causes of frailty, but the effects are weakness, loss of muscle mass, loss of balance, and weight loss. Approximately 10% of people ≥65 years old are frail, increasing to 15.7% in people 80–84 years old, and 26.1% in people ≥85 years old.[1]
What is frailty?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Frailty is a syndrome marked by a reduced ability to cope with stressors, which leads to a higher risk of negative health outcomes such as falls and hospitalizations. It is characterized by weakness, muscle mass loss, balance issues, and weight loss and affects approximately 10% of people aged 65 and older, and its prevalence increases in older age groups.