The Geriatric 10-Second Functional Capacity Test (Ger10-FCT): A Practical and Rapid Screening Tool for Frailty,...

Maintaining physical function in older adults is essential to prevent adverse outcomes such as fractures, disability, and mortality. Although existing physical function tests are practical, they often require space, equipment, or trained professionals, limiting their accessibility for self-assessment.

This study aimed to develop the Geriatric 10-Second Functional Capacity Test (Ger10-FCT), a novel, self-administered screening tool that combines two simple physical function tests: the one-leg stand test (OLS) and the five-time sit-to-stand test (5TSST).

In total, 1226 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled and categorized into four groups based on 10-s cutoff values for OLS and 5TSST: Group 1 (good in both functions), Group 2 (better balance but poor strength), Group 3 (poor balance but better strength), and Group 4 (poor in both functions). Cross-sectional data (sarcopenia, frailty, and past falls) and five-year follow-up outcomes (fractures, disability, and mortality) were analyzed.

According to the Ger10-FCT, 738 participants (60.2%) were classified into Group 1, 142 (11.6%) into Group 2222 (18.1%) into Group 3, and 124 (10.1%) into Group 4. Group 4 had the highest prevalences of sarcopenia (25.7%), frailty (17.7%), and past falls (34.7%). This group also had the highest risk of fractures (OR [95% CI], 1.76 [1.10-2.82]), disability (4.23 [2.55-7.00]), and mortality (4.36 [2.34-8.14]) among the four groups.

The Ger10-FCT is a practical and accessible tool that effectively identifies older adults at high risk of adverse health outcomes. Its simplicity and predictive validity make it suitable for integration into community health promotion programs and clinical practice.