Understanding Frailty in IBD: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Care
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Prevalence and Pathophysiology of Frailty in IBD
3. Frailty Assessment Tools in IBD
4. Clinical Implications of Frailty in IBD
5. Management of Frailty in IBD
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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| Frailty Assessment Tool | Thresholds | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) [43] | high frailty risk: >15 | Easily integrated into hospital electronic systems, objectivity | Limited applicability in outpatient settings |
| The Fried Frailty Phenotype [44] | ≥3 criteria | Applicability in the outpatient setting | Focused on physical performance without cognitive or psychosocial assessment |
| Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) [20] | 7-point scale from 1-fit to 7-severely frail | Applicability in the outpatient setting | Low sensitivity for younger adults or to detect more subtle functional limitations |
| Frailty Index (FI) [45] | Quantifies frailty by counting the proportion of an individual’s health “deficits” compared to the total number of deficits considered. | Nuanced risk stratification | Requires extensive data, restricting its routine use |
| G8 questionnaire [35] | Positive screen: ≤14 | Short and simple but developed as a screening tool for identifying which oncology patients required more in-depth geriatric assessment, not intended to diagnose frailty | Developed as a screening tools for geriatric deficits not for assessing frailty |
| Management of Frailty in IBD | Key Strategies |
|---|---|
| Optimizing Disease Control |
|
| Nutritional Support assessment |
|
| Physical Rehabilitation |
|
| Management of Comorbidities | Medications, lifestyle modification, monitoring |
| Psychosocial and Cognitive Interventions |
|
| Surgical Considerations |
|
| Multidisciplinary and Integrated Care |
|
| Pharmacologic approaches targeting sarcopenia | Selective androgen receptor modulators or myostatin inhibitors |
| Telemedicine and remote monitoring | Early detection of frailty-related complications, supportexercise adherence, improve patient engagement |
| Preventive strategies | Vaccination, infection prophylaxis, fall prevention |
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Salvatori, S.; Marafini, I.; Monteleone, G. Understanding Frailty in IBD: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Care. J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15, 1440. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041440
Salvatori S, Marafini I, Monteleone G. Understanding Frailty in IBD: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Care. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026; 15(4):1440. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041440
Chicago/Turabian StyleSalvatori, Silvia, Irene Marafini, and Giovanni Monteleone. 2026. "Understanding Frailty in IBD: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Care" Journal of Clinical Medicine 15, no. 4: 1440. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041440
APA StyleSalvatori, S., Marafini, I., & Monteleone, G. (2026). Understanding Frailty in IBD: Implications for Clinical Outcomes and Multidisciplinary Care. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(4), 1440. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041440

