Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Importance
Age has historically been used to predict negative post-surgical outcomes. The concept of frailty was introduced to explain the discrepancies that exist between patients' chronological and physiological age. The efficacy of the modified frailty index (mFI) to predict surgical risk is not clear.Objective
We sought to synthesize the current literature to quantify the impact of frailty as a prognostic indicator across all surgical specialties.Data sources
Pubmed and Cochrane databases were screened from inception to 1 January 2018.Study selection
Studies utilizing the modified Frailty Index (mFI) as a post-operative indicator of any type of surgery. The mFI was selected based on a preliminary search showing it to be the most commonly applied index in surgical cohorts.Data extraction and synthesis
Articles were selected via a two-stage process undertaken by two reviewers (AP and DS). Statistical analysis was performed in Revman (Review manager V5.3). The random-effects model was used to calculate the Risk Ratios (RR).Main outcome(s) and measure(s)
The primary outcomes: post-operative complications, re-admission, re-operation, discharge to a skilled care facility, and mortality.Results
This meta-analysis of 16 studies randomizes 683,487 patients, 444,885 frail, from gastrointestinal, vascular, orthopedic, urogenital, head and neck, emergency, neurological, oncological, cardiothoracic, as well as general surgery cohorts. Frail patients were more likely to experience complications (RR 1.48, 95%CI 1.35-1.61; p < 0.001), major complications (RR 2.03, 95%CI 1.26-3.29; p = 0.004), and wound complications (RR 1.52, 95%CI 1.47-1.57; p < 0.001). Furthermore, frail patients had higher risk of readmission (RR 1.61, 95%CI 1.44-1.80; p < 0.001) and discharge to skilled care (RR 2.15, 95%CI 1.92-2.40; p < 0.001). Notably, the risk of mortality was 4.19 times more likely in frail patients (95% CI 2.96-5.92; p < 0.001).Conclusions
and Relevance: This study is the first to synthesize the evidence across multiple surgical specialties and demonstrates that the mFI is an underappreciated prognostic indicator that strongly correlates with the risk of post-surgical morbidity and mortality. This supports that formal incorporation of pre-operative frailty assessment improves surgical decision-making.
SUBMITTER: Panayi AC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6536365 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Panayi A C AC Orkaby A R AR Sakthivel D D Endo Y Y Varon D D Roh D D Orgill D P DP Neppl R L RL Javedan H H Bhasin S S Sinha I I
American journal of surgery 20181127 2
<h4>Importance</h4>Age has historically been used to predict negative post-surgical outcomes. The concept of frailty was introduced to explain the discrepancies that exist between patients' chronological and physiological age. The efficacy of the modified frailty index (mFI) to predict surgical risk is not clear.<h4>Objective</h4>We sought to synthesize the current literature to quantify the impact of frailty as a prognostic indicator across all surgical specialties.<h4>Data sources</h4>Pubmed a ...[more]