Advances in management of frailty in the elderly. Implications for primary health care

Although the theoretical concept of frailty is widely accepted, its practical application is somehow limited due to the exist-ence of multiple tools related to its early detection and inter-vention proposals. In this brief review of the situation, the aim is to summarize the latest evidence regarding early detection and management of frailty in Primary Health Care. The screening is based on opportunistic case detection by active search from the age of 70, using a performance test and the FRAIL scale as tools. Confirmation using the Frailty Index is recommended. Its approach should be multidimensional and focusing on muscle strength training, protein supplementation and medication re-view. Frailty is preventable, and emphasis should be placed on early detection. Despite advances in recent years, more research is needed in order to find the most effective healthcare model.