Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2025

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty
05:53

Measuring Frailty in HIV-infected Individuals. Identification of Frail Patients is the First Step to Amelioration and Reversal of Frailty

Published on: July 24, 2013

16.6K

Bidirectional Association Between Frailty and Cardiac Structure and Function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities

Diego Ramonfaur1, Hicham Skali1, Brian Claggett1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston MA.

Journal of the American Heart Association
|July 31, 2023
PubMed

Insights

In older adults, frailty is linked to worsening heart function over time. Subclinical cardiac changes also predict increased frailty, highlighting a bidirectional relationship in aging hearts.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Frailty and heart failure are common in older adults, but their longitudinal relationship is understudied.
  • Existing research has limited data on the interplay between frailty and subclinical cardiac dysfunction over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between frailty and longitudinal changes in cardiac function.
  • To examine how cardiac function predicts the progression of frailty status in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort, including frailty and echocardiographic assessments.
  • Employed multivariable regression models to analyze associations, adjusting for demographics and comorbidities.
  • Assessed changes in cardiac function over 6 years and frailty progression over 4 years.

Main Results:

  • Frailty at baseline was associated with increased left atrial volume index and E/e' ratio.
  • Participants progressing from robust to frail status showed greater increases in left ventricular mass index and left atrial volume index.
  • In robust individuals, specific cardiac measures like left ventricular mass index and E/e' ratio predicted frailty progression.

Conclusions:

  • Progression of frailty and subclinical cardiac dysfunction are interrelated in older adults without heart failure.
  • Findings suggest a bidirectional link between worsening frailty and cardiac remodeling/diastolic dysfunction.
  • This highlights the importance of assessing both frailty and cardiac health in geriatric populations.

Keywords:
LV functionechocardiographyepidemiologyfrailty

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Assessing Surgical Frailty with Point-of-Care Ultrasound of Quadriceps Muscles04:00

Author Spotlight: Assessing Surgical Frailty with Point-of-Care Ultrasound of Quadriceps Muscles

Published on: July 26, 2024

575
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation08:10

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

1.7K

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
20
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

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...
1.6K
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
13
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
10
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
12
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
16