Early Frailty Detection and Management: A Practical Review of Screening Tools and Multicomponent Interventions

Frailty is an increasingly recognized geriatric syndrome characterized by reduced physiological reserve and heightened vulnerability to stressors. Early detection is essential, as frailty is dynamic and can be improved with timely, targeted interventions. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the identification and management of frailty in older adults, with particular attention to screening tools, multidimensional assessment, and multicomponent intervention strategies. Literature was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2024, focusing on clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and observational studies relevant to early frailty detection. Several brief screening tools have demonstrated good utility in routine care, including the Edmonton Frailty Scale, the Timed Up and Go test, gait speed assessment, and the Vulnerable Elders Survey. These tools enable rapid case-finding and can be integrated into primary care, hospital intake assessment and community settings. Evidence consistently shows that exercise-based programmes, particularly those targeting strength, balance and mobility, form the cornerstone of frailty management. Nutritional support, medication review, including deprescribing where appropriate - and elements of the comprehensive geriatric assessment further reinforce functional stability. Effective interventions are multidisciplinary and person-centred, combining physical, cognitive, nutritional, and psychosocial components. Despite growing evidence, the implementation of frailty pathways remains challenging due to workforce limitations, fragmented care processes, and variability in service availability across regions, including Central and Eastern Europe. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and embedding frailty screening into routine practice are essential for improving outcomes. Early detection, combined with coordinated, multicomponent management, offers a realistic opportunity to delay or reverse frailty progression and support healthy ageing.