Too frail for surgery? Initial results of a large multidisciplinary prospective study examining preoperative variables predictive of poor surgical outcomes

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.