Frailty found in 82.3% of patients preparing for TAVI

Frailty was present in 82.3% of 113 Polish patients with severe aortic stenosis who had been qualified for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), according to a cross-sectional observational study. The cohort was recruited between January and September 2024, and researchers used the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) to assess frailty alongside measures of quality of life, mental health and social support. Higher frailty levels were associated with worse NYHA class, an unhealthy lifestyle and greater emotional burden.

Depression and anxiety were also significantly correlated with frailty, with the strongest association involving the psychological domain of the TFI. These findings identify statistical relationships within the assessed group; because the study was cross-sectional, they do not establish that any of these factors caused frailty. Logistic regression identified NYHA class, emotional impact measured with the TASQ questionnaire and unhealthy lifestyle as independent predictors of frailty in the analysis.

The relationship with social support differed from the other reported associations: better support correlated with lower social-frailty scores rather than with lower overall frailty levels. The study was limited to 113 patients in Poland who had already been qualified for TAVI, so the 82.3% prevalence estimate may not apply to all people with severe aortic stenosis or to other clinical settings. The reported analysis examined the prevalence and correlates of frailty rather than evaluating whether prehabilitation or psychosocial support improved outcomes.

The authors proposed that comprehensive assessment of physical, emotional and social factors could help identify potentially modifiable components of frailty, but the study itself did not test the effectiveness of those approaches.

Subject of Research: Prevalence and correlates of frailty among patients with severe aortic stenosis qualified for TAVI

Article Title: Prevalence of frailty syndrome among patients with severe aortic stenosis qualified for TAVI

Article References: Świątoniowska-Lonc, N., Węgrzynowska-Teodorczyk, K., Perone, F., Ściborski, K., Banasiak, W., & Doroszko, A. (2026). Prevalence of frailty syndrome among patients with severe aortic stenosis qualified for TAVI. BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-08413-7

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12877-026-08413-7

Keywords: frailty, severe aortic stenosis, TAVI, Tilburg Frailty Indicator, geriatric medicine, mental health, social support, quality of life, NYHA class, cross-sectional study, Prevalence, syndrome