Disrupted Circadian Rhythm of Heart Rate Variability in Pre-frail Adults Compared to Nonfrail Individuals

Frailty is a widespread aging-related syndrome that increases vulnerability to stressors.1 About 12% to 24% of individuals aged 50 and older are frail, and 46% to 49% are pre-frail.2 It adversely affects older adults physically, psychologically, and socially, resulting in higher hospitalization and mortality rates and lower quality of life.3 Although frailty can be reversed with appropriate intervention,4 the subjectivity of current assessment tools limits their effectiveness.5 Heart rate variability (HRV) may objectively assess frailty due to its connection with the autonomic nervous system (ANS), with lower HRV indicating greater frailty risk.