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Introduction: The Frailty Syndrome is not synonymous with disability, but may be a precursor of etiological and physiological dysfunction, which affects mobility before causing reduced functional capacity, explaining conditions of weakness, weight loss, and abnormal gait. Study design: This is an analytical, observational, cross-sectional study. Objective: To verify the association of handgrip strength, gait speed, fear of falling, and falls with the level of frailty. Methods: Study consisting of 54 participants, aged 65 and older, enrolled in a health care and monitoring government program in the municipality of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The volunteers were assessed for frailty, – non-frail group (NG), pre-frail group (PG), and frail group (FG) – according to the Fried criteria, and based on the outcomes of handgrip strength, gait speed, fear of falling, and falls. An inferential descriptive statistical analysis followed, with Chi-square and KruskallWallis tests performed by the Stata11.0 software. Results: In the comparative analysis between the groups studied there was statistical significance relative to handgrip strength (FG and NG), gait speed (NG and FG / NG and PG), and fear of falling (NG and FG). There was no significant difference between the levels of frailty and falls. Conclusions: Frailty is associated with reduced muscle strength, decreased gait speed, and greater fear of falling in elderly people of the community.

Association of falls, fear of falling, handgrip strength and gait speed with frailty levels in the community elderly