Expert consensus on the evaluation of physical function in the care of elderly patients with chronic diseases

With the gradual increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly, the decline in physical function among elderly patients with chronic diseases has become a major public health issue. The decline in physical function not only severely affects patients’ daily living abilities and quality of life but also increases the burden on medical care and society. Therefore, how to effectively care for the physical function of elderly patients with chronic diseases has become an important issue at present. This consensus, based on the GRADE grading standards, integrates existing research evidence from both domestic and international sources, aiming to standardise the assessment and care practices for physical function in elderly patients with chronic diseases. The consensus covers core assessment components such as muscle strength and mass, walking speed, simple physical condition, timed starting walk test, balance function, daily living ability, and 6-minute walking test. The goal is to establish uniform evaluation standards, enable early identification of functional impairments, thereby reducing care burdens and improving the quality of life for the elderly chronic disease population.