David Lee: No Clear Cut Definition for Frailty BACK

Published by AFAR

Over the past two weeks, I have read articles on how to define “frailty” and what criteria researchers use to classify patients as frail.  I have learned that frailty is complex and defined differently based upon the study. One author thinks of frailty as a loss of physiological reserves and uses a five criteria checklist, which includes grip strength, walk time, weight loss, physical activity level, and self-reported exhaustion, whereas another defines the term as a loss of deficits and uses a 70 item index.  Having such a difference in classifying people as frail shows how little we actually know about this syndrome.  I have learned that defining terms and understanding criteria for inclusion is a common theme throughout clinical research.     

During my first week at the C.A.R.E. clinic, I learned how to use online resources to find articles pertaining to frailty.  My PI told me that only a few of our lab members study this topic and that I should strive to become a “frailty expert.”  The first week was very repetitive; however, after seeing that a researcher I was reading about was actually featured in a NY Times article and knowing that frailty is relevant and of interest to others, made me more motivated to work harder. 

After about a week, I presented my findings about frailty and the criteria we should use for our research to my PI and had a discussion about which criteria to include in the study.  My PI sat down with me and drew an arrow diagram to clarify my question and create a research plan for the summer.  The first step we decided was that I should work towards learning the statistical program, SAS, so that we can further analyze our data and have a better understanding of my project.  I am currently in the process of getting the program for my computer and the lab computers.

I started going into the clinic to shadow my geriatrician mentor this week.  It was a great experience and further supported my passion to pursue geriatrics.  I love the fact that every patient who saw my mentor had a different health condition and that it was a challenge to juggle the medication list, the various chronic conditions, and the acute condition of the patient.  It was both exciting to see my mentor interact with the patient and for me to enter the room beforehand and take a history from the patient.  I very much enjoyed my experience in clinic and look forward to clinic next week.

Overall, these past two weeks have been a great learning experience.  Being in lab and shadowing my mentor has definitely solidified my interest in geriatrics!  I can’t wait for the next couple of weeks.

David Lee
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

"Diary of an MSTAR Student" follows scholars in the 2012 Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program, highlighting their summer experiences. As they continue their path of research, training and clinical practice, read their daily thoughts at www.afar.org/mstarblog. New diary entries are posted every day, so check back soon.