The prognostic value of clinical frailty scale and outcomes in older patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation

Objectives: Heart failure impacts patients’ functional capabilities, ultimately leading to frailty. The use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is acceptable as both destination therapy and bridge to transplant in heart failure management. We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on outcomes in older patients undergoing implantation of LVAD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients ≥ 60 years old that underwent LVAD implantation at our medical center from May 1, 2018, to October 30, 2020. CFS was retrospectively assigned before LVAD placement and CFS scores > 4 was considered frail. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression were used to analyze 1-year survival estimates. Results: Forty percent of the cohort was classified as frail according to CFS. Thirty-day re-admission rates were comparable between frail and non-frail patients (46% vs 35%; P = 0.419). 1-year survival was lower in the frail vs non-frail group (log rank, P = 0.017). On Cox analysis, only frailty was associated with 1-year post-intervention mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.131–28.212; P = 0.035). Conclusions: CFS-defined frailty was associated with increased risk of 1-year mortality after LVAD implantation. CFS may be a valuable tool in the frailty assessment for risk stratification of patients undergoing LVAD implantation. Multicenter studies are required to validate these findings.