Calculators · Geriatrics · Classification

Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS v2.0)

Also called CFS, Rockwood frailty scale, frailty score

Nine-level judgement of an older adult's baseline fitness/frailty (Rockwood; version 2.0 names).

Baseline level (about 2 weeks before the acute illness)

Fill 1 more field to see the result.

Formula and scoring

Clinical judgement, not a sum. Level names per CFS version 2.0 (Rockwood & Theou 2020).

Exam and ward pearls

  • Score the baseline state, not the acute illness — level 9 is the only level based on the current state.
  • If two levels fit equally, choose the more dependent one; dementia severity maps to frailty severity (mild dementia ≈ CFS 5).

When not to rely on it

  • Not well validated in younger people or in stable single-system disability (e.g. paraplegia, learning disability) — do not use it alone to ration care.
  • Descriptors here are shortened; the official chart is copyright Dalhousie University (free for non-commercial clinical use).

Source

  1. Rockwood K, Song X, MacKnight C, et al. A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ. 2005;173(5):489-95. doi:10.1503/cmaj.050051 · PMID 16129869
  2. Rockwood K, Theou O. Using the Clinical Frailty Scale in allocating scarce health care resources. Can Geriatr J. 2020;23(3):210-5. doi:10.5770/cgj.23.463 · PMID 32904824
  3. Dalhousie University Geriatric Medicine Research. Clinical Frailty Scale. Link

Formula and cut-offs checked against these sources on 8 Nov 2026. Educational tool for clinicians; it does not replace clinical judgement.

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