Reference centiles for intrinsic capacity to monitor clinical health outcomes in real-world primary care cohorts.

Abstract

Intrinsic capacity (IC) refers to physical and mental capacities that determine healthy aging. IC is the central element of the World Health Organization care pathway 'Integrated Care for Older People' (ICOPE). However, the operationalization of a composite IC measurement in clinical settings remains to be defined. We used screening data from ICOPE implementation in a real-life population of 27,706 adults 60 years or older that were users of primary care services to elaborate and cross-validate IC scores and centile values for men and women. Here, we show that IC centiles were cross-sectionally associated with comorbidity, frailty and limitations in both activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. External validation using populations from high-income (French INSPIRE-T cohort) and upper-middle-income (ICOPE Brazil) countries validated the associations between IC centiles and clinical outcomes. The IC centiles developed using ICOPE screening data constitute a standardized parameter to monitor individual and population IC through a clinically friendly approach.