An Expert Opinion on the Management of Frailty in Heart Failure from the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance National Taskforce
Date
2025
Authors
McDonagh, J.
Ferguson, C.
Hilmer, S.N.
Hubbard, R.E.
Lindley, R.I.
Driscoll, A.
Maiorana, A.
Wu, L.
Atherton, J.J.
Bajorek, B.V.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Heart Lung and Circulation, 2025; 34(7):693-703
Statement of Responsibility
Julee McDonagh, Caleb Ferguson, Sarah N. Hilmer, Ruth E. Hubbard, Richard I. Lindley, Andrea Driscoll, Andrew Maiorana, Lindsay Wu, John J. Atherton, Beata V. Bajorek, Bridie Carr, Kim Delbaere, Elsa Dent, Mai H. Duong, Louise D. Hickman, Ingrid Hopper, Quan Huynh, Sunita R. Jha, Anthony Keech, Marc Sim, Gursharan K. Singh, Anthony Villani, Catherine Shang, Meng Hsu, Jamie Vandenberg, Patricia M. Davidson, Peter S. Macdonald
Conference Name
Abstract
Approximately 50% of all adults with heart failure (HF) are classified as frail. Frailty is a clinical state of 'accelerated ageing' that complicates management and results in adverse health outcomes. Despite recommendations for frailty assessment in HF guidelines, its implementation into routine clinical practice has been slow. Further, evidence to inform models of care and pharmacological treatment for individuals with HF who are classified as frail is lacking. The complexity of management underscores the importance of tailoring models of care that can improve the focus on frailty through multidisciplinary care teams. Frailty can be reduced in some cases through the comprehensive geriatric assessment model of care, integrating treatment pillars such as exercise, nutrition, social engagement and support networks, and optimised medication use. A national agenda for action on frailty in the context of HF is needed to advance policy, practice, education, and research improve health outcomes for individuals affected. In November 2023 the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) facilitated a national workshop on frailty and HF with key experts. This has led to the development of a frailty and HF national taskforce with the aim to address major priorities and unmet needs. This statement is first step for the taskforce in implementing a national agenda for the management of frailty in HF. Here we outline key considerations for policy, practice, education, and research in Australia.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).