Frailty Doubles Death Risk in People With Heart and Metabolic Disease

Based on: Frailty status and mortality among patients with cardiometabolic diseases in an international multi-cohort study.

Strong Evidence·Journal Article·iScience·Apr 2026

Looking at five large studies across the US, UK, and China, people with heart or metabolic conditions who were frail had up to 132% higher risk of dying from any cause. Even being slightly weak (pre-frail) raised the risk by 21% to 66%. The link was strongest in people under 65 and those with lower body weight.

Key Insight

This study suggests frailty checks could matter even for younger adults with heart or metabolic issues.

Original Paper

Ren R, Zhang Y, Du M, Wang W, Wang L, Bai J, Lu Y, Ma Y, Wang D

iScience··Five large cohorts including UK Biobank, NHANES, and others

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Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.