Heart failure (HF) may contribute to the development of functional decline and frailty in older adults. Sixty HF patients with an ejection fraction ≤ 40% evaluated in 2004 and 2005 were reevaluated in 2008. Six-minute walk distance (6MW), frailty score, and biomarkers (25-hydroxyvitamin D, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) were measured. Participants were categorized at baseline and follow-up into 3 groups: nonfrail/normal endurance (NF/NE), nonfrail/low endurance (NF/LE) and frail/low endurance (F/LE). Survival time was assessed according to frailty/endurance status and associated predictors of mortality. Forty-three men, 17 women (mean age, 78 ± 12 years) were contacted. At follow-up, 20 had died, 20 participated, and 20 did not participate. There were no changes in frailty/endurance status over time (McNemar;P=.19). Deaths occurred in 18% of NF/NE, 45% of NF/LE, and 60% of F/LE persons. The NF/NE group had greater survival rates than the NF/LE ( P=.032) and F/LE ( P=.014) groups. The 6MW and frailty score were independently predictive of mortality, with hazard ratios of 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.72-0.94) and 1.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.26), respectively, as was New York Heart Association class and IL-6. Backward stepwise Cox regression revealed that 6MW and frailty each were associated with mortality (P=.005) and highly correlated. Physical function is an important predictor of mortality in older adults with HF. The 6MW may be useful as a measure of frailty.
© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.