BACKGROUND: The decision as to whether a patient can tolerate surgery is often subjective and can misjudge a patient's true physiologic state. The concept of frailty is an important assessment tool in the geriatric medical population, but has only recently gained attention in surgical patients. Frailty potentially represents a measureable phenotype, which, if quantified with a standardized protocol, could reliably estimate the risk of adverse surgical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Frailty was prospectively evaluated in the clinic setting in patients consenting for major general, oncologic, and urologic procedures. Evaluation included an established assessment tool (Hopkins Frailty Score), self-administered questionnaires, clinical assessment of performance status, and biochemical measures. Primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were 189 patients evaluated: 117 from urology, 52 from surgical oncology, and 20 from general surgery clinics. Mean age was 62 years, 59.8% were male, and 71.4% were Caucasian. Patients who scored intermediately frail or frail on the Hopkins Frailty Score were more likely to experience postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 2.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.08, p = 0.036). Of all other preoperative assessment tools, only higher hemoglobin (p = 0.033) had a significant association and was protective for 30-day complications. CONCLUSIONS: The aggregate score of patients as "intermediately frail or frail" on the Hopkins Frailty Score was predictive of a patient experiencing a postoperative complication. This preoperative assessment tool may prove beneficial when weighing the risks and benefits of surgery, allowing objective data to guide surgical decision-making and patient counseling.
BACKGROUND: The decision as to whether a patient can tolerate surgery is often subjective and can misjudge a patient's true physiologic state. The concept of frailty is an important assessment tool in the geriatric medical population, but has only recently gained attention in surgical patients. Frailty potentially represents a measureable phenotype, which, if quantified with a standardized protocol, could reliably estimate the risk of adverse surgical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Frailty was prospectively evaluated in the clinic setting in patients consenting for major general, oncologic, and urologic procedures. Evaluation included an established assessment tool (Hopkins Frailty Score), self-administered questionnaires, clinical assessment of performance status, and biochemical measures. Primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were 189 patients evaluated: 117 from urology, 52 from surgical oncology, and 20 from general surgery clinics. Mean age was 62 years, 59.8% were male, and 71.4% were Caucasian. Patients who scored intermediately frail or frail on the Hopkins Frailty Score were more likely to experience postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 2.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.08, p = 0.036). Of all other preoperative assessment tools, only higher hemoglobin (p = 0.033) had a significant association and was protective for 30-day complications. CONCLUSIONS: The aggregate score of patients as "intermediately frail or frail" on the Hopkins Frailty Score was predictive of a patient experiencing a postoperative complication. This preoperative assessment tool may prove beneficial when weighing the risks and benefits of surgery, allowing objective data to guide surgical decision-making and patient counseling.
Keywords:
ASA; American Society of Anesthesiologists; BMI; CCI; CES-D; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; Charlson Comorbidity Index; ECOG; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; body mass index
Authors: Anne M Suskind; Chengshi Jin; Matthew R Cooperberg; Emily Finlayson; W John Boscardin; Saunak Sen; Louise C Walter Journal: Urology Date: 2016-07-05 Impact factor: 2.649
Authors: Robert J S Coelen; Jimme K Wiggers; Chung Y Nio; Marc G Besselink; Olivier R C Busch; Dirk J Gouma; Thomas M van Gulik Journal: HPB (Oxford) Date: 2015-02-28 Impact factor: 3.647
Authors: Mark K Ferguson; Katherine Thompson; Megan Huisingh-Scheetz; Jeanne Farnan; Joshua Hemmerich; Julissa Acevedo; Stephen Small Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 2015-05-23 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Kristen R Scarpato; Stephen F Kappa; Kathryn M Goggins; Sam S Chang; Joseph A Smith; Peter E Clark; David F Penson; Matthew J Resnick; Daniel A Barocas; Kamran Idrees; Sunil Kripalani; Kelvin A Moses Journal: J Health Commun Date: 2016-09-23
Authors: Munyaradzi Chimukangara; Melissa C Helm; Matthew J Frelich; Matthew E Bosler; Lisa E Rein; Aniko Szabo; Jon C Gould Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2016-10-03 Impact factor: 4.584