Development and Validation of a Frailty Index for Ischemic Stroke Patients

This study aimed to develop and validate a frailty index (FI) tailored to ischemic stroke patients based on the cumulative deficit model. Using data from 537 patients, 34 health-related variables were initially selected through literature review. A series of statistical methods, including correlation analysis, critical ratio method, homogeneity testing, and factor analysis, were applied to screen variables. 31 variables covering physical, psychological, and cognitive domains were retained. The final FI showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.879), construct validity, and moderate criterion validity with the Fried’s frailty phenotype (FP) (r = 0.504, P < 0.001). These findings support the FI as a reliable and valid tool for assessing frailty in ischemic stroke patients, offering a multidimensional and sensitive measure suitable for clinical practice and long-term monitoring.