To determine the extent to which an incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) event modifies frailty trajectories in older individuals and identify influencing factors.
Key Findings:
Frailty trajectories increased over time, with 1934 incident CVD events recorded.
Post-CVD event, there was a short-term increase in both frailty indices, with FI continuing to rise over time.
Hospitalization for heart failure and stroke were associated with the greatest increases in frailty.
Factors such as age >80 years, being female, living alone, and residing in regional/remote areas correlated with greater frailty burden.
Interpretation:
Incident CVD events significantly increase frailty burden in older adults, necessitating targeted interventions to manage frailty-related complications.
Limitations:
The study is observational, which may limit causal inferences.
The cohort primarily consisted of Australians, which may affect generalizability.
Conclusion:
Healthcare providers should integrate frailty assessment into CVD management to mitigate risks for those most vulnerable.
