Exploring the connection between frailty and cardiovascular diseases.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Frailty is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes in older adults, particularly those with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
• The global burden of CVD is rising, compounded by aging populations and the complex interplay of geriatric conditions like frailty, comorbidities, and polypharmacy.
• Existing literature shows a high prevalence of frailty in older adults with CVD, predicting cardiovascular mortality and impacting health status and quality of life.

Approach:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing peer-reviewed papers on frailty and cardiovascular diseases over a ten-year period.
• The review focused on identifying the correlation between frailty and mortality risk, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and common cardiovascular conditions.
• Key geriatric conditions impacting prognosis and the need for standardized frailty assessment were also examined.

Key Points:

• Frailty is a significant predictor of mortality in COVID-19 patients and increases the risk of cardiovascular events and major adverse cardiovascular events in older adults, even without prior CVD.
• Frailty assessment can inform personalized treatment decisions and aid in optimizing resource distribution for better disease management.
• A notable increase in research publications on frailty and CVD was observed, peaking between September 2021 and September 2022.

Conclusions:

• Frailty screening is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals, enabling targeted preventive measures and improving overall prognosis.
• Standardization of frailty assessment tools in clinical practice and research is essential for consistent and reliable application.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of frailty on specific cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and atrial fibrillation.