RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA) for Brazilian community-dwelling adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using a quantitative approach. SETTING: Urban population from the city of São Carlos, located in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 148 individuals aged 60 or over. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were assessed using the RGA, Fried Frailty Phenotype, International Physical Activity Questionnaire - long version, Addenbrooke´s Cognitive Exam - Revised Version, Mini Nutritional Assessment, short Form - 36, EuroQol 5-Dimension, Geriatric Depression Scale - short version, in addition to performing Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry to diagnose sarcopenia, according to the criteria established by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. RESULTS: In the translation and adaption process of the RGA, steps recommended by the literature were followed: initial translation, synthesis of translations, backward translation, evaluation from the panel of judges, and pre-test. When evaluating the psychometric properties of the scale, satisfactory reliability (internal consistency and stability) and validity (content, concurrent criterion and convergent, divergent and discriminant construct) were verified. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the RGA is reliable and valid, and can be used in the Brazilian context to evaluate the elderly population.