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Table 2 Coding of variables for the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

From: Comparison of alternate scoring of variables on the performance of the frailty index

Variable name

Ordinal response/code

Dichotomous response/code

Hospitalization in past year

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Heart attack

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Chronic lung disease

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Osteoporosis

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Parkinson disease

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Stroke or CVD

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Asthma

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Cancer

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Cataracts

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

High blood cholesterol

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Long-term illness

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

High blood pressure

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Diabetes or high blood sugar

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Arthritis

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Stomach or duodenal ulcer

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Hip or femoral fracture

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Heart trouble or angina

no = 0; yes = 1

no = 0; yes = 1

Falling down

no = 0; yes = 1

no = 0; yes = 1

Stomach or intestine problems

no = 0; yes = 1

no = 0; yes = 1

Difficulty biting on hard foods

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Dizziness

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Breathlessness

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Sleeping problems

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Incontinence

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Swollen legs

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Require dentures

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Persistent cough

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Pain in any joint

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Climbing several flights of stairs

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Pulling/pushing large objects

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Dressing

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Eating

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Using a map to get around

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Stooping/kneeling/crouching

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Managing money

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Lifting/carrying weights >5 kg

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Getting in or out of bed

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Walking across a room

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Making telephone calls

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Sitting for about two hours

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Walking 100 meters

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Getting up from a chair

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Preparing a hot meal

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Taking medications

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Bathing or showering

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Reaching or extending arms

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Picking up a small coin from table

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Using the toilet

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Shopping for groceries

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Doing work around house/garden

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Appetite and eating

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Suicidality

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Lack of enjoyment

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Trouble sleeping

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Fatigue

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Fear of falling down

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Felt depressed

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Pessimism

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Interest

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Concentration

no = 0, yes = 1

no = 0, yes = 1

Limitations with activities

not limited = 0, limited but not severely = 0.5, severely limited = 1

no limitations = 0, any limitations = 1

Frequency of vigorous activities

more than once a week = 0, once a week = 0.33, one to three times a week = 0.67, hardly ever, or never = 1

once a week or more = 0, less than once a week = 1

Frequency of moderate activities

more than once a week = 0, once a week = 0.33, one to three times a week = 0.67, hardly ever, or never = 1

once a week or more = 0, less than once a week = 1

Problems with eyesight

excellent = 0, very good = 0.25, good = 0.5, fair = 0.75, poor = 1

excellent/very good/good = 0 Fair/poor = 1

Hearing problems

excellent = 0, very good = 0.25, good = 0.5, fair = 0.75, poor = 1

excellent/very good/good = 0, fair/poor = 1

Self-rated health

excellent = 0, very good = 0.25, good = 0.5, fair = 0.75, poor = 1

excellent/very good/good = 0, fair/poor = 1

Orientation

4 correct responses = 0, 3 correct = 0.25, 2 correct = 0.5, 1 correct = 0.75, 0 correct = 1.0

3 or 4 correct = 0, fewer than 3 correct = 1

Mathematical performance

4 correct responses = 0, 3 correct = 0.25, 2 correct = 0.5, 1 correct = 0.75, 0 correct = 1.0

2 to 4 correct = 0, fewer than 2 correct =1

Delayed recall test

6 words or more recalled = 0, 5 words recalled = 0.25, 4 words = 0.5, 2 to 3 words = 0.25, 1 or 0 words = 1

3 words or more recalled = 0, fewer than 3 words recalled = 1

Verbal fluency score

25 or more animals named = 0, 21 to 24 named = 0.25, 17 to 20 named = 0.5, 13 to 16 named = 0.75, 12 or fewer named = 1

15 or more animals named = 0, fewer than 15 named = 1