Blodgett, J.M.Theou, O.Howlett, S.E.Wu, F.C.W.Rockwood, K.2020-02-032020-02-032016Age and Ageing, 2016; 45(4):463-4680002-07291468-2834http://hdl.handle.net/2440/123141abnormal laboratory test results accumulate with age and can be common in people with few clinically detectable health deficits. A frailty index (FI) based entirely on common physiological and laboratory tests (FI-Lab) might offer pragmatic and scientific advantages compared with a clinical FI (FI-Clin).to compare the FI-Lab with the FI-Clin and to assess their individual and combined relationships with mortality and other adverse health outcomes.secondary analysis of the eight-centre, longitudinal European Male Ageing Study (EMAS) of community-dwelling men aged 40-79 at baseline. Follow-up assessment occurred 4.4 ± 0.3 (mean ± SD) years later.we constructed a 23-item FI using common laboratory tests, blood pressure and pulse (FI-Lab), compared it with a previously validated 39-item FI using self-report and performance-based measures (FI-Clin) and finally combined both FIs to create a 62-item FI-Combined. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, institutionalisation, doctor visits, medication use, self-reported health, falls and fractures.the mean FI-Lab score was 0.28 ± 0.11, the FI-Clin was 0.13 ± 0.11 and FI-Combined was 0.19 ± 0.09. Age-adjusted models demonstrated that each FI was associated with mortality [HR (CI) FI-Lab: 1.04 (1.03-1.06); FI-Clin: 1.05 (1.04-1.06); FI-Combined: 1.07 (1.06-1.09)], institutionalisation, doctor visits, medication use, self-reported health and falls. Combined in a model with FI-Clin, the FI-Lab remained independently associated with mortality, institutionalisation, doctor visits, medication use and self-reported health.the FI-Lab detected an increased risk of adverse health outcomes alone and in combination with a clinical FI; further evaluation of the feasibility of the FI-Lab as a frailty screening tool within hospital care settings is needed.en© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.Frailty; frail older people; pre-clinical frailty; ageing; mortalityJournal article003006226610.1093/ageing/afw0540003796896000072-s2.0-85015151362259903Theou, O. [0000-0001-6460-782X]