Older age and a higher EHRA score allow higher levels of frailty syndrome to be predicted in patients with atrial fibrillation

Background: There is no research that evaluates the relationship between the severity of the symptoms of atrial fibrillation (AF), the presence of frailty syndrome and acceptance of the illness.

Methods: The study included 132 patients aged 72.7?±?6.73 with diagnosed AF. The severity of the symptoms of AF was determined according to European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) guidelines, frailty syndrome was assessed using the Tilburg frailty indicator (TFI) and the acceptance of the illness was assessed using the acceptance of illness scale (AIS). A standard statistical comparison and multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method were performed.

Results: In patients with AF, frailty was 5.31?±?2.69 (TFI). Frailty syndrome was diagnosed in 59.8% of the AF patients who had a score of 7.17?±?1.72. A higher level of EHRA score was connected with a smaller degree of the acceptance of the illness p?=?0.0000. The multiple regression model indicated that age (p?=?0.0009) and the severity of the symptoms (p?=?0.0001) are important predictors of frailty syndrome.

Conclusions: There is a relationship between the presence of frailty syndrome and the intensity of the symptoms and the acceptance of AF. Age and the EHRA score permitted higher levels of frailty syndrome to be predicted.