A groundbreaking study by a Chinese research team has unveiled that actively managing frailty can significantly reduce the risk of arrhythmia in elderly individuals.
Led by Zhang Cuntai from Tongji Hospital, affiliated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the research utilized extensive data from the UK Biobank and was published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.
Frailty syndrome, an age-related condition marked by decreased physical activity, muscle weakness, increased fatigue, and poor recovery from illnesses, is closely linked to metabolic diseases. Despite its profound impact on overall health, the connection between frailty and arrhythmia risk in older populations has been underrecognized.
The study revealed a significant and independent positive linear relationship between pre-frailty and frailty states and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other arrhythmias. Notably, frail individuals with a high genetic predisposition for AF faced a staggering 234% higher risk of developing AF compared to their non-frail counterparts with low genetic risk.
This research underscores the importance of integrating frailty prevention and management into primary arrhythmia prevention strategies. Zhang emphasized the need for routine health check-ups for older adults to include frailty assessments, such as muscle strength tests and activity evaluations, and to provide targeted interventions for those with high genetic risks.
Reference(s):
Frailty management can reduce arrhythmia risks in old people
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