Trajectories and Predictors of Frailty in Patients With Heart Failure: A Longitudinal Study

AIM: This study aimed to identify the heterogeneous trajectories of frailty and determine the predictors of distinct trajectories in patients with heart failure. DESIGN: A longitudinal study. METHODS: A total of 253 patients with heart failure were recruited at the cardiology department of a tertiary hospital between February and December 2023. Frailty was assessed at baseline, 1 and 4 months after discharge. Patients' sociodemographic characteristics, physical symptoms, nutritional status, psychological distress, illness perception and social networks were obtained at baseline using a structured questionnaire. Group-based trajectory modelling was performed to identify the heterogeneity of the trajectories of frailty. Multiple logistic regression and decision tree models were used to explore the predictors of heterogeneous trajectories of frailty. RESULTS: Three distinct trajectories of frailty were identified in patients with heart failure: low frailty with high-degree improvement group (46.2%), moderate frailty with high-degree improvement group (41.1%) and high frailty with low-degree improvement group (12.6%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that physical symptoms, nutritional status, illness perception and employment status were entered as independent predictors of heterogeneous trajectories of frailty. The decision tree model demonstrated that physical symptoms were the primary predictors, followed by nutritional status, illness perception and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Three distinct categories of frailty trajectories were identified in patients with heart failure. Physical symptoms, nutritional status, psychological distress, illness perception and employment status were independent predictors of heterogeneous trajectories of frailty, with physical symptoms being the most important predictor. IMPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Dynamic frailty assessment is recommended. Interventions aimed at alleviating physical symptoms, psychological distress and negative illness perception, and improving nutritional status may be conducive to delaying or reversing frailty in patients with heart failure, particularly in unemployed individuals. REPORTING METHOD: The reporting followed the STROBE guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: No patient or public contribution.