Predictive Ability of Comorbidity Indices for Surgical Morbidity and Mortality: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOME OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AFTER ELECTIVE AND EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY

BACKGROUND

Surgery is associated with a high risk for morbidity and mortality, particularly when performed in critical patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in a large cohort of patients admitted to a single-center ICU after abdominal surgery.

METHODS

All patients admitted to a surgical ICU for postoperative care, from January 2016 to December 2022, were retrospectively evaluated. Data concerning demographics and clinical and perioperative variables were compared to in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 1,717 patients (1,096 women, mean age: 61±17 years) were evaluated. Most of the patients underwent colorectal (n=499), pancreatic (n=148), biliary tract (n=147), and gastric surgeries (n=145); liver resection (n=131); and several gynecological or obstetric procedures (n=250). Only 52.3% of these surgical procedures were elective. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were 4.4±2.8 and 10.1±5.6, respectively. Mortality was observed in 158 (9.2%) patients. Age (70.4±14.3 vs. 60.6±17.1 years in survivors, p=0.002), CCI (6.1±2.5 vs. 4.3±2.8 in survivors, p=0.005), type of surgery (13.6% in emergent/urgent vs. 5.5% in elective surgeries, p<0.001), and APACHE II score (16.7±8.4 vs. 9.4±4.7 in survivors, p<0.0001) were associated with mortality on univariate analysis, but only CCI, type of surgery, and APACHE II score were independently correlated with a higher risk of death on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality after abdominal surgery in patients requiring postoperative ICU support is less than 10% nowadays, and it is independently associated with urgent or emergent surgeries, disease severity, and comorbidity.

Predictors of prolonged hospitalization among geriatric trauma patients using the modified 5-Item Frailty index in a Middle Eastern trauma center: an 11-year retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Using a validated tool, we explored the prevalence, risk factors, and predictors of longer hospitalization among hospitalized geriatric patients.

METHODS

Retrospective and comparative analyses of age groups (55-64 vs. ≥ 65 years), gender, survival status, and frailty index categories were performed. The Modified 5-Item Frailty Index was assessed, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to predict prolonged hospitalization (> 7 days).

RESULTS

There were 17,600 trauma hospitalizations with a mean age of 32 ± 15 years between 2010 and 2021; of them, 9.2% were geriatrics at ≥ 55-64 years (n = 935) and ≥ 65 years (n = 691). The female/male ratio was 17.5%/82.5%, and the mean injury severity score was 13 ± 9. The injury rate for age ≥ 65 was 24 per 10,000 compared to 10 per 10,000 in the younger group age (≥ 55-64). 35% of injuries occurred at home due to falls. Overall mortality was 8%, with a higher rate among males than females (9% vs. 4%). The deceased were three years older at the time of death compared to the survivors. Higher frailty grades were associated with home-related falls and head injuries. Patients 65 years or older were likely to have higher frailty scores, as indicated by higher percentages in the mFI-5. Among the older group, 25% were moderately frail, and 18% severely frail. In the younger group, 50% were frail. Higher frailty scores correlated with increased acute kidney injury, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and longer hospital stays. Severe frailty significantly predicted longer hospitalization (odds ratio 1.83, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

One out of eleven trauma admissions was aged > 55. Head injury and bleeding were the leading causes of mortality in the study cohort. There was a significant decrease in the trend of geriatric trauma over the years. The modified FI-5 performs well as a predictive tool of prolonged hospitalizaion in trauma patients with different age groups.

Utility of the mFI-5 as a predictor of post-operative outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric cancer: an ACS-NSQIP analysis

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is the 5th most common malignancy worldwide. Surgical treatment for the disease can often be highly morbid, especially in elderly patients. The modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5), a recently developed tool for assessing patient frailty, has been shown to be an effective predictor of post-operative outcomes in various surgical fields. This study aims to assess the utility of the mFI-5 in predicting adverse postoperative outcomes following gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

METHODS

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients who underwent partial or total gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 2011 and 2021. The mFI-5 score was calculated based on the presence of hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and partially or fully dependent functional status. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to mFI-5 score (mFI-5 = 0, mFI-5 = 1, mFI-5 ≥ 2). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between mFI-5 score and post-operative outcomes.

RESULTS

7438 patients were identified (mFI-5 = 0: 3032, mFI-5 = 1: 2805, mFI-5 ≥ 2: 1601). mFI-5 ≥ 2 was an independent predictor of overall complications (OR 1.43, p < 0.001), serious complications (OR 1.42, p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR 1.43, p = 0.010), MI (OR 2.91, p = 0.005), and readmission within 30 days (OR 1.33, p = 0.008). Patients with higher frailty were more likely to experience unplanned intubation (OR 2.06, p < 0.001; OR 2.47, p < 0.001), failure to wean from the ventilator (OR 1.68, p = 0.003; OR 2.00, p < 0.001), acute renal failure (OR 3.25, p = 0.003; OR 3.27, p = 0.005), 30-day mortality (OR 1.73, p = 0.009; OR 1.94, p = 0.004), and non-home discharge (OR 1.34, p = 0.001; OR 1.74, p < 0.001) relative to non-frail patients.

CONCLUSION

Higher frailty, as indicated by an increased mFI-5 score, raises the risk of serious post-operative complications in patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy. The mFI-5 has the potential to help identify high-risk patients and enhance pre-operative discussions and optimization.

Evaluation and Application of Frailty Index in Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor that primarily affects the elderly population. Surgery is one of the main treatment modalities for CRC. Frailty is a prevalent characteristic among the elderly and a leading cause of mortality. The frailty index (FI) is a comprehensive tool for assessing patients' frailty status, quantifying indicators such as weight loss, fatigue, and nutritional status, to reflect the degree of frailty. In recent years, the FI has undergone modifications to more accurately evaluate the risk of surgical complications and prognosis in CRC patients. This review summarizes the methods for frailty assessment, the development and modifications of the FI, and compiles the research findings and applications of the FI in predicting surgical complications, postoperative recovery, and survival rates in CRC patients. Furthermore, limitations in the current modified frailty index (mFI) and future research directions are discussed. This review provides essential references for further understanding the role of frailty in CRC patients and the clinical application of the mFI.

Predictive performance of different measures of frailty (CFS, mFI-11, mFI-5) on postoperative adverse outcomes among colorectal cancer patients: a diagnostic meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To clarify the predictive performance of different measures of frailty, including Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), 11-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-11), and 5-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-5), on adverse outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and other databases were retrieved from the inception of each database to June 2023. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the summary receiver operating curve (SROC) values were analyzed to determine the predictive power of CFS, mFI-11, and mFI-5 for adverse outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 25 studies were included in quantitative synthesis. The pooled sensitivity values of CFS for predicting anastomotic leakage, total complications, and major complications were 0.39, 0.57, 0.45; pooled specificity values were 0.70, 0.58, 0.73; the area under SROC values were 0.58, 0.6, 0.66. The pooled sensitivity values of mFI-11 for predicting total complications and delirium were 0.38 and 0.64; pooled specificity values were 0.83 and 0.72; the area under SROC values were 0.64 and 0.74. The pooled sensitivity values of mFI-5 for predicting total complications, 30-day mortality, and major complications were 0.27, 0.54, 0.25; pooled specificity values were 0.82, 0.84, 0.81; the area under SROC values were 0.63, 0.82, 0.5.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that CFS could predict anastomotic leakage, total complications, and major complications; mFI-11 could predict total complications and delirium; mFI-5 could predict total complications and 30-day mortality. More high-quality research is needed to support the conclusions of this study further.