Intrinsic capacity (IC) is a comprehensive indicator of an individual’s positive attributes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a two-step approach to assess IC decline among older people. The first step involved using the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) screening tool to identify potential issues, and the second step involved using detailed assessments for confirmation. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of ICOPE screening tool as a simple preliminary screening to identify IC decline among community-dwelling older adults, which was rarely reported in China.