Supplementary file 2_Association between the electronic frailty index and mortality in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.docx

Among these, 11 cohorts provided HR-based estimates and 2 cohort provided OR-based estimates. HR-based and OR-based estimates were analyzed separately. In the HR-based meta-analysis, eFI-defined frailty severity was associated with higher mortality risk.

Compared with the non-frail group, the pooled HRs were 1.81 for mild frailty, 2.95 for moderate frailty, and 4.41for severe frailty. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across the main analyses. Subgroup analyses stratified by follow-up duration, eFI cut-off definition, study setting, and disease category suggested that the magnitude of association varied across study characteristics.</p>Conclusions<p>This meta-analysis provides quantitative evidence of a graded association between eFI-defined frailty severity and mortality in older adults.

These findings suggest that the eFI may be useful in frailty screening and risk stratification in geriatric care, although the substantial between-study heterogeneity warrants cautious interpretation and the results should not be interpreted as direct evidence of predictive performance.</p>Systematic review registration<p>crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42025632191.</p>