Preoperative frailty assessment with Robinson Frailty Score (RFS) and Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS) in older surgical patients with cancer.

Abstract

e24033 Background: In general geriatric surgical patients, frailty has been shown to predict higher rates of postoperative adverse outcomes. A little is known about how to optimally assess older adults with cancer for preoperative frailty. We evaluated the potential utility of the RFS [Robinson Am J Surg. 2013], EFS [Rolfson Age Ageing. 2006] and Geriatric 8 (G8) for prediction of postoperative adverse events. Methods: This cohort study included older adults who were prospectively evaluated by geriatric oncology service at Kyushu Cancer Center in Japan before undergoing oncological surgery between September 2018 and December 2019. The RFS measures cognition, function (activities of daily living (ADLs) and Timed Up & GO (TUG)), history of falls, comorbidity, albumin and hematocrit (score 0 to 1: fit (n = 71), 2 to 3: prefrail (n = 30) and 4 to 7: frail (n = 13)). The EFS evaluates cognition, function (IADLs and TUG), incontinence, self-perceived health, mood, nutrition, polypharmacy and social support (score 0 to 3: fit, 4 to 7: prefrail and 8 to 17: frail). G8 was dichotomized at previously studied cut-off value of 14. The primary outcome was composite adverse events (AEs), including 30-day postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 2) and discharge to an institutional care facility. Severity of surgery was assessed using the Operative Stress Score (OSS) [Shinall JAMA Surg. 2019]. Results: Of 114 patients (median age 80 years, range 72-96), surgery type was GI in 62%, HEENT in 20%, GYN in 8%, and other in 10%. 100 patients had ECOG PS 0 to 1. Using the OSS, surgical procedures were classified as very low to low stress (9%), moderate stress (31%), high stress (46%) and very high stress (15%). 45 patients had AEs. After adjusting for the OSS, preoperative frailty based on the RFS was associated with the occurrence of AEs (fit: 25%, prefrail: 49%, frail: 77%; p < 0.01). However, neither the EFS (fit: 30%, prefrail: 37%, frail: 60%; p = 0.14) nor G8 was significantly associated with a risk of AEs (score > 14: 17%, score ≤ 14: 41%; p = 0.07). Conclusions: Preoperative frailty status defined by the RFS is predictive of postoperative adverse outcomes in older adults undergoing elective surgery for cancer.