Relationship between cardiovascular health and frailty in older adults: Literature review.

Authors

Keywords:

Frailty, cardiovascular disease, older adults, mortality, cardiac rehabilitation

Abstract

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome defined by decreased physiological reserves and a reduced capacity to respond to stressors, which increases the risk of disability, hospitalization, and mortality. Its relationship with cardiovascular disease is highly relevant in the context of an aging population, since the coexistence of both conditions increases the risk of clinical complications and functional decline. The objective of this review was to analyze the scientific evidence on the association between cardiovascular health and frailty in older adults, identifying risk factors, clinical outcomes, and intervention strategies. A qualitative systematic review of scientific literature published between 2019 and 2025 in international databases was conducted, considering studies in English and Spanish that explored this relationship and excluding articles lacking sufficient methodological support. The results show that frailty is highly prevalent in patients with ischemic heart disease and heart failure, reaching up to 80% in advanced cases, and is associated with increased mortality, hospital readmissions, functional disability, and postoperative complications. In hypertensive patients, a U-shaped relationship is observed between blood pressure and frailty, which increases the risk of adverse events due to both insufficient and excessive control. Regarding pathophysiological mechanisms, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction are common processes that promote the progression of cardiovascular disease and the loss of functional reserve. In conclusion, the evidence confirms that frailty and cardiovascular disease form a vicious cycle that increases clinical vulnerability, underscoring the need to integrate its detection and management into cardiovascular practice to improve outcomes and quality of life in older adults.

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Author Biographies

Paúl Sebastian Flores-Paucar, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Sede Ambato. Ecuador.

 

 

Freddy Alejandro Betancourt-Navas, Centro de Especialidades Otavalo-IESS. Ecuador.

 

 

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Published

2025-10-01

How to Cite

Moyano-Sailema, P. J., Mera-Moya, A. L., Flores-Paucar, P. S., & Betancourt-Navas, F. A. (2025). Relationship between cardiovascular health and frailty in older adults: Literature review. Revista UGC, 3(S3), 105–111. Retrieved from https://universidadugc.edu.mx/ojs/index.php/rugc/article/view/231

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Vol. 3 No. S3 (2025): Retos, innovaciones y perspectivas multidisciplinarias en investigación y práctica universitaria (Octubre)

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Copyright (c) 2025 Paulina Jacqueline Moyano-Sailema, Ana Lucia Mera-Moya, Paúl Sebastian Flores-Paucar, Freddy Alejandro Betancourt-Navas

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