A strong, statistically significant negative correlation was found between frailty and activity levels in elderly patients with heart failure (r = -0.751; p < 0.001), indicating that as frailty increases, activity level decreases.
Elderly patients with heart failure demonstrated a moderate level of frailty based on the Edmonton Frail Scale.
Elderly patients with heart failure had a low mean activity level score corresponding to level 1 on the Patient Activation Measure.
A strong, statistically significant negative correlation was found between frailty and activity levels in elderly patients with heart failure.
Higher education and income levels were associated with higher activity levels in elderly patients with heart failure.
Frequent emergency department visits, hospital readmission history, polypharmacy, and NYHA functional class were significantly associated with activity level.
Non-frail status was associated with a higher level of patient activity in elderly heart failure patients.
This research examined the relationship between frailty (a state of reduced physical and mental reserves common in older adults) and how actively engaged patients are in managing their own health, in a group of 140 elderly people hospitalized for heart failure. On average, the patients showed a moderate degree of frailty and a very low level of patient activation (essentially being passive recipients of care rather than active participants). The study found a strong connection between these two factors: the frailer a patient was, the less active they tended to be in their own care. The study also found that several other factors were linked to higher activity levels, including having more education, higher income, not taking many medications at once (polypharmacy), not having been readmitted to the hospital before, and having less severe heart failure symptoms (NYHA Class II). This suggests that frailty and patient engagement in healthcare are interconnected problems that may need to be addressed together in this population. This research suggests that healthcare providers, particularly nurses, should routinely assess both frailty and patient activation levels in elderly heart failure patients. Understanding that frailer patients are likely to be less engaged in their own care could help clinicians tailor individualized care plans, potentially improving recovery and reducing complications. The findings highlight the importance of considering frailty not just as a physical issue, but as something that may affect a patient's ability and willingness to participate actively in treatment decisions and self-management.
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Upload Your LabsAğaslan M, Kumaş G. (2026). The relationship between frailty and activity level in elderly patients with Heart failure: A cross-sectional study.. Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2026.104026