People over 60 are at high risk of developing frailty, but GPs can help reduce this by screening older patients for the condition, say the Melbourne authors of a landmark study.

Although definitions vary, a patient is considered frail if three out of five criteria are met: low physical activity, weak grip strength, low energy, slow walking speed, and non-deliberate weight loss.

Those who meet one to two of the five criteria are defined as pre-frail.

The Monash University-led team calculated for the first time how many people are expected to become frail, finding 4.3% of those over 60 will develop the condition each year.