51²è¹Ý

March 27, 2025

National initiative aims to improve outcomes for heart failure patients affected by frailty

Approximately 50 per cent of adults living with heart failure are classified as frail, resulting in poorer health outcomes, higher hospitalisations, and increased mortality rates.

Despite clear guidelines recommending frailty assessment for this patient population, the implementation of these assessments in clinical practice has been slow and inconsistent.

However, frailty can be reduced and, in some cases, reversed by addressing four critical areas: exercise, nutrition, social support and optimised medication use.

A new publication by the (ACvA) is advocating for improved frailty assessment and multidisciplinary care models.

“Heart failure patients with frailty face numerous challenges, including a lack of tailored models of care and pharmacological guidance,” says , ACvA Frailty & Heart Failure National Taskforce Co-lead from the 51²è¹Ý (UOW) School of Nursing (pictured above).

“Frailty significantly impacts a patient’s ability to respond to treatment and care plans, so its management needs a holistic, multi-faceted approach.”

This work emerges from the ACvA Clinical Theme Initiative which fosters multidisciplinary collaboration across the sector to develop ambitious national solutions to cardiovascular disease and stroke’s greatest challenges.

The ACvA Heart Failure Clinical Theme hosted a national workshop that brought together healthcare professionals, policy makers, and researchers from across the country. This collaboration led to the creation of the Frailty & Heart Failure National Taskforce, which aims to drive forward policy, practice, education, and research focused on improving outcomes for patients with both heart failure and frailty.

Key priorities identified by the ACvA Frailty & Heart Failure National Taskforce include:

• Establishing a standardised approach to frailty assessment in Heart Failure patients.
• Increasing the focus on frailty within cardiac multidisciplinary team management.
• Enhancing geriatric and primary care expertise in heart failure management to improve care integration and outcomes.

“Incorporating multidisciplinary teams and comprehensive geriatric assessments can provide much-needed support to these patients,” says , ACvA Frailty & Heart Failure National Taskforce Co-lead, also from the UOW School of Nursing.

“We’re excited to take a major step forward in addressing the complex needs of heart failure patients living with frailty,” says Dr McDonagh. “This initiative will not only raise awareness but will drive the development of standardised practices, education, and research that are crucial to better care for these patients.”

You can read An Expert Opinion on the Management of Frailty in Heart Failure from the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance National Taskforce .