Frailty in elderly inpatients with cardiovascular disease: an exploration of associated factors

Abstract

Aims Older patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are more likely to develop frailty. Few studies have investigated frailty status, and its multiple associated factors, in this population. The aim of the present study was to explore frailty status, and its multidimensional associated factors, in elderly inpatients with CVDs. Methods and results In this cross-sectional study, 1021 inpatients with CVDs aged ≥60 years old were recruited through convenience sampling from multiple hospitals in Suzhou, China. The FRAIL scale was used to assess frailty. A self-designed questionnaire gathered sociodemographic, clinical, and health-related information related to the physiological, psychological, and social dimensions of frailty. Among the 629 elderly inpatients with CVDs (73.64 ± 7.93 years old) who met inclusion criteria and completed the assessments, 176 (28.0%) were classified as frail. Univariate analyses demonstrated that the proportion of frailty was significantly associated with multiple factors. Logistic regression analysis indicated that, compared to their counterparts, the risk of frailty was higher in participants with cardiac function classes II, III, and IV [odds ratio (OR) = 1.866, 3.393, and 6.351, respectively]; average and bad mastication function (OR = 2.534 and 2.945, respectively); and often or always using walking aids (OR = 2.713). Conversely, the risk of frailty was lower in participants with good nutritional status (OR = 0.879) and regular exercise habits (OR = 0.573), as compared with their counterparts. Conclusion Frailty in elderly inpatients with CVDs is common and associated with multiple physiological factors including cardiac function, mastication function, nutritional status, use of walking aids, and regular exercise habits.

Associated factors of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our nding was consistent with the studies conducted by He et al and Meng et al [34,35], indicating that age was a signi cant factor associated with frailty in patients with CHF. A systematic review supported this, revealing that older patients with HF were six to seven times more likely to be frail than non-frail individuals [36].…”

Research on the frailty status and adverse outcomes of elderly patients with multimorbidity

“…Frailty is also a common clinical indicator of poor prognosis in the elderly and a bidirectional causal relationship between them is probable. The incidence of frailty in elderly Chinese individuals is thought to range from 9.9% to 31.92% and pre-frailty from 33.9–39.62% [ 23 – 25 ]. Elsewhere, studies have reported frailty and pre-frailty rates to be 16%-94% and 38%-87.8%, respectively, among geriatric patients [ 4 , 13 , 26 ].…”

Effect of frailty on medication deviation during the hospital-family transition period in older patients with cardiovascular disease: An observational study

“…The diseases included were CVD due to atherosclerosis, that is, ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, and other CVDs, that is, hypertension, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. [ 18 ] The specific inclusion criteria were: Age ≥ 60 years; Self-care ability; and Informed consent to participate in this study. The exclusion criteria were: Day surgery patients; < 2 Types of drugs prescribed at discharge; Transferred patients; Patients discharged voluntarily; Patients who died during hospitalization; Patients with mental disorders or inability to communicate; Patients who died during the follow-up period after discharge; and Patients who were followed up for 2 consecutive days and those who did not respond to telephone after 3 attempts.…”