[Frailty comprises more than mental health]

In a recent study published in this journal, a frailty index was operationally defined by 14 items from 'The older people and informal caregivers survey - minimum data set' (TOPICS-MDS). These items remained after other items from the TOPICS data set were used separately to define morbidity and disability. These 14 items predominantly pertain to mental health. A frailty index, however, should include all deficits, i.e. symptoms, morbidity and disability. If anything, these 14 items should be more properly labelled as mental health.