What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Atrial Fibrillation (n=773). Intervention: Frailty or pre-frailty vs. Not frail. Primary outcome: Recurrence or persistence of atrial fibrillation at two-year follow-up (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.25).

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence.

June 14, 2026BMC GeriatricsOpen Access

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty linked to ~52% higher odds of two-year AF recurrence or persistence.

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Why the study?

While traditional risk factors are well-established, the role of frailty, a marker of biological aging, in the course of AF over time remains underexplored.

Does baseline frailty or pre-frailty increase the odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years in older adults with non-valvular AF?

Population

773 older adults (≥ 65 years) with AF and a CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥ 2

Comparison

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty vs robust status, or recurrent/persistent AF vs sinus rhythm

Design

Prospective cohort study

Follow-up

Two-year follow-up

Key result

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty was significantly associated with higher odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years (aOR 1.52).

Authors

BGBahjat Ghazzal DLDarleen Lessard JTJoseph Tejan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May identify older AF patients needing closer monitoring; leaves open whether frailty interventions reduce recurrence.

Key Points

This research aims to explore the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence.
Utilized data from 854 older adults with atrial fibrillation and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2 from the SAGE-AF cohort.
Participants were evaluated using baseline and two-year follow-up electrocardiograms to determine AF recurrence or persistence.
Conducted statistical analysis to determine the association between frailty and AF outcomes.
AF recurrence or persistence was found in 379 participants (49%) at two-year follow-up.
Higher odds of recurrence or persistence associated with frailty (aOR 1.52, 95%CI 1.03–2.25).
Increased incidence of major bleeding events linked to recurrent or persistent AF (aHR 1.87, 95%CI 1.01–3.45).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=773)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does baseline frailty or pre-frailty increase the odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years in older adults with non-valvular AF?

Population

773 older adults (mean age 75.5, 48% female) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score >2, followed for two years.

Exposure

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty (assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Survey [CHS] frailty scale)

Comparator

Not frail (no CHS frailty criteria met)

Outcome

Recurrence or persistence of atrial fibrillation detected on electrocardiogram (ECG) at two-year follow-up

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 1.52 (95% CI 1.03–2.25)

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty is independently associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years, which correlates with an increased risk of major bleeding.

Limitations

Missing data for baseline AF type reduced the sample available for fully adjusted models to 665 complete cases.
Residual risk not captured by measured covariates.
Single baseline measurement of frailty, which is a dynamic condition that changes over time
Apparent AF-bleeding association may be partially mediated by anticoagulant type (warfarin vs DOAC) rather than reflecting a direct effect of rhythm status

Cite This Study

Ghazzal et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Atrial Fibrillation (n=773). Frailty or pre-frailty vs. Not frail was evaluated on Recurrence or persistence of atrial fibrillation at two-year follow-up (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.25). Baseline frailty or pre-frailty was significantly associated with higher odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years (aOR 1.52).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2e4608b1cc60ccdea8ae94 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07794-z

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June 14, 2026BMC GeriatricsOpen Access

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty linked to ~52% higher odds of two-year AF recurrence or persistence.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

While traditional risk factors are well-established, the role of frailty, a marker of biological aging, in the course of AF over time remains underexplored.

Does baseline frailty or pre-frailty increase the odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years in older adults with non-valvular AF?

Population

773 older adults (≥ 65 years) with AF and a CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥ 2

Comparison

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty vs robust status, or recurrent/persistent AF vs sinus rhythm

Design

Prospective cohort study

Follow-up

Two-year follow-up

Key result

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty was significantly associated with higher odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years (aOR 1.52).

Authors

BGBahjat Ghazzal DLDarleen Lessard JTJoseph Tejan

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

May identify older AF patients needing closer monitoring; leaves open whether frailty interventions reduce recurrence.

Key Points

This research aims to explore the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence.
Utilized data from 854 older adults with atrial fibrillation and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 2 from the SAGE-AF cohort.
Participants were evaluated using baseline and two-year follow-up electrocardiograms to determine AF recurrence or persistence.
Conducted statistical analysis to determine the association between frailty and AF outcomes.
AF recurrence or persistence was found in 379 participants (49%) at two-year follow-up.
Higher odds of recurrence or persistence associated with frailty (aOR 1.52, 95%CI 1.03–2.25).
Increased incidence of major bleeding events linked to recurrent or persistent AF (aHR 1.87, 95%CI 1.01–3.45).

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=773)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does baseline frailty or pre-frailty increase the odds of atrial fibrillation recurrence or persistence at two years in older adults with non-valvular AF?

Population

773 older adults (mean age 75.5, 48% female) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score >2, followed for two years.

Exposure

Baseline frailty or pre-frailty (assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Survey [CHS] frailty scale)

Comparator

Not frail (no CHS frailty criteria met)

Outcome

Recurrence or persistence of atrial fibrillation detected on electrocardiogram (ECG) at two-year follow-up

Main Result

Odds Ratio: 1.52 (95% CI 1.03–2.25)

Limitations

Missing data for baseline AF type reduced the sample available for fully adjusted models to 665 complete cases.
Residual risk not captured by measured covariates.
Single baseline measurement of frailty, which is a dynamic condition that changes over time
Apparent AF-bleeding association may be partially mediated by anticoagulant type (warfarin vs DOAC) rather than reflecting a direct effect of rhythm status

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2e4608b1cc60ccdea8ae94 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07794-z

Also Consider

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