Short-term heart rate variability: A potential approach to frailty assessment in older adults

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation using short-term heart rate variability (HRV) and compare it among frailty statuses in older Indian adults.

Methods: A total of 210 subjects aged 60 years and above were recruited into three groups: frail (n = 70), pre-frail (n = 70), and non-frail (n = 70) from the outpatient department of Geriatric Medicine at a tertiary care hospital in India. Frailty status was assessed using the Rockwood frailty index (FI) criteria. HRV was derived from a 5-min ECG recording of standard limb leads and assessed using time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear analysis of cardiac interval variability.

Results: The HRV parameters indicative of parasympathetic modulation such as SDNN, SDSD, rMSSD, NN50, pNN50, absolute HF power, and SD1 were significantly lower in frail subjects compared with both pre-frail and non-frail subjects (P < 0.05). Absolute LF power and SD2 were also lower in frail subjects compared with pre-frail and non-frail subjects (P < 0.05). Measures of sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF and SD1/SD2 ratios) did not show statistical significance. The FI demonstrated negative correlations with all HRV parameters.

Conclusions: Frail individuals exhibit decreased sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation compared with pre-frail and non-frail individuals, although maintaining a balanced sympatho-vagal state. Furthermore, autonomic modulation declines progressively with increasing frailty.