Changes with age in the distribution of a frailty index.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey analysis
PubMed 15246748 · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2004.05.003
What was done
Analyzed cross-sectional data from a representative Canadian survey (n = 66,589) evaluating the probability density distribution across age groups of a frailty index calculated as the mean accumulation of deficits.
What was found
The frailty index density function showed a monotonic change in shape with age, becoming least skewed at the oldest ages, and was well fitted by a gamma distribution across ages. The coefficient of variation was initially high and decreased from middle age onward. Specific numerical values and parameters were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
Demonstrates that deficit accumulation follows a consistent mathematical distribution across life, supporting the use of a frailty index to quantify health risks in populations and individuals.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot track individual longitudinal trajectories and is vulnerable to survival bias at older ages. Specific numerical values and goodness-of-fit metrics are omitted in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Mortality risk and frailty index scores increase exponentially after approximately age 30.