Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
04:00
Author Spotlight: Assessing Surgical Frailty with Point-of-Care Ultrasound of Quadriceps Muscles
Published on: July 26, 2024
1.6K
Frailty in advanced heart failure: a systematic review
Sunita R Jha1, Hakeem S K Ha, Louise D Hickman
1Faculty Health, Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, sunita.jha@uts.edu.au.
Heart Failure Reviews
|May 19, 2015
Summary
Frailty is common in older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF), affecting 18-54%. This condition significantly increases risks for falls, hospitalization, and mortality, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Frailty is a geriatric syndrome indicating increased vulnerability to stressors.
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients exhibit a high prevalence of frailty.
- Frailty in CHF is linked to adverse outcomes like falls, hospitalization, and mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the prevalence and impact of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
- To synthesize findings regarding frailty assessment tools and associated risks in the CHF population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted from 2004 to 2014.
- Searches included Medline, CINAHL, and Academic Search Complete using terms like 'frail elderly' and 'heart failure'.
- Eight articles met inclusion criteria, requiring validated frailty measures in confirmed CHF populations.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of frailty in CHF patients ranged widely from 18% to 54%.
- The frailty phenotype and geriatric assessment tools were commonly used.
- High rates of comorbidity, hospitalization, and mortality were consistently identified in frail CHF patients.
Conclusions:
- Frailty is a prevalent condition among individuals with chronic heart failure.
- Frailty in CHF is significantly associated with increased risks of adverse health events and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
4.7K
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
4.7K
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
567
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
567
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
599
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
599
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
1.5K
Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
1.5K
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
916
Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
916
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions
743
The first step in nursing management of a patient with heart failure involves thoroughly assessing the patient's medical history.Subjective Data: Obtain the patient's medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and symptoms like dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.Objective Data: Conduct a physical examination to identify findings such as jugular vein distention, pulmonary crackles, tachycardia, murmurs, peripheral edema, and vital signs,...
743