Predictive ability of both the healthy aging index and the frailty index for all-cause mortality

We aimed to develop and assess a modified healthy aging index (HAI) among Chileans aged 60 years and older and compare its predictive ability for all-cause mortality risk with the frailty index (FI).

This prospective study analyzed data from the Chilean National Health Survey (CNHS) conducted in 2009–2010. We included 847 adults with complete data to construct the HAI and FI. The HAI comprised five indicators (lung function, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, cognitive status, and glomerular filtration rate), while the FI assessed frailty using a 36-item scale. HAI scores were calculated by summing the indicator scores, ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating poorer health. Receiver operating curves (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess predictive validity. Associations with all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted by confounders.

The mean HAI score was 4.06, while the FI score was 0.24. The AUC for mortality was higher for the HAI than the FI (0.640, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.601 to 0.679 vs. 0.586, 95% CI 0.545 to 0.627). After adjusting for confounders, the FI showed a higher mortality risk compared to the HAI (2.63, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.51 vs. 1.16, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.26).

The FI and HAI were valid predictors for all-cause mortality in the Chilean population. Integrating these indices into research and clinical practice can significantly enhance our capacity to identify at-risk individuals.