Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Research Articles

Impressive Short-Term Improvement in Functional Outcome and Quality of Life after Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) in the Orthogeriatric Patient in a Prospective Monocentric Trial.

Background/Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) represents the most frequent chronic joint disease worldwide. Facing an aging population, resulting from the demographic change, the number of primary total hip arthroplasties (THA) will further increase. Although the geriatric patient strongly differs from the younger one, the current literature on elective orthopedic surgery in the geriatric patient is scarce. This work analyses, whether geriatric patients receiving primary THA significantly improve in terms of their (1) mobility and functional outcome and (2) health-related quality of life at four to six weeks as well as three months postoperatively. Methods: In a prospective study design, we analyzed 101 geriatric patients with osteoarthritis of the hip receiving primary THA. The study is part of the ongoing "Special Orthopaedic Geriatrics" (SOG) trial, which is funded by the German Federal Joint Committee (GBA). In addition to a preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the EQ5D-5L were imposed preoperatively (t0), at four to six weeks (t1), and at three months (t2) postoperatively. Results: The 101 enrolled patients had a mean age of 78.1 ± 4.9 years. The total WOMAC score and almost all subcategories significantly improved at four to six weeks as well as three months postoperatively in comparison to the preoperative results (p < 0.001). The same was observed for the EQ-5D-5L, showing significant improvement in overall health at both time points (p < 0.001) and all subcategories (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study implies that a geriatric patient benefits as much from elective primary THA as a younger patient. However, the preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment with screening for risk factors is of utmost importance. Regarding the aging population, a lot of effort is needed to obtain more knowledge about geriatric patients receiving elective orthopedic surgery.

Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and multidisciplinary team input in older people undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery: A feasibility trial.

To determine the feasibility of preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and multidisciplinary team (MDT) input for older people undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery in a tertiary New Zealand setting. This single-centre retrospective study included elective orthopaedic patients older than 65 years (and Māori/Pasifika aged greater than 55 years) with hyperpolypharmacy, frailty, neurocognitive disorders and poor functional status. Patients attended a preoperative clinic where they had a geriatrician-led CGA along with MDT input. The feasibility of this preoperative model was assessed using outcomes of acceptability, accessibility and adherence. A qualitative description of patient demographics along with clinic assessment and interventions further describes this pilot experience. Sixty patients met inclusion criteria. This group were vulnerable older people (median age 77 years), with a high incidence of hyperpolypharmacy (85%), frailty (80%) and neurocognitive disorders (30%). Acceptability was high (97%), along with CGA accessibility (100%); however, MDT accessibility varied (53-90%). Adherence to MDT intervention was low; with only 26% of patients completing physiotherapy sessions and only 29% adhering to dietary advice. Accurate recall was a significant factor contributing to poor adherence. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was demonstrated to be a broad and flexible intervention. CGA with MDT input is an acceptable and accessible intervention to be utilised as part of improved preoperative care for the older person undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Further consideration around methods to increase adherence in this patient group should be explored. Future research should focus on refining the intervention, and quantifying impact on patient outcomes.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Cognitive Decline After Orthopedic Surgery in Elderly Chinese Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

We aimed to identify the risk factors for postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) by evaluating the outcomes from preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and intraoperative anesthetic interventions. Data used in the study were obtained from the Aged Patient Perioperative Longitudinal Evaluation-Multidisciplinary Trial (APPLE-MDT) cohort recruited from the Department of Orthopedics in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between March, 2019 and June, 2022. All patients accepted preoperative CGA by the multidisciplinary team using 13 common scales across 15 domains reflecting the multi-organ functions. The variables included demographic data, scales in CGA, comorbidities, laboratory tests and intraoperative anesthetic data. Cognitive function was assessed by Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale within 48 hours after admission and after surgery. Dropping of ≥1 point between the preoperative and postoperative scale was defined as POCD. We enrolled 119 patients. The median age was 80.00 years [IQR, 77.00, 82.00] and 68 patients (57.1%) were female. Forty-two patients (35.3%) developed POCD. Three cognitive domains including calculation (P = 0.046), recall (P = 0.047) and attention (P = 0.007) were significantly worsened after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that disability of instrumental activity of daily living, incidence rate of postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) ≥4.2%, STOP-Bang scale score, Caprini risk scale score and Sufentanil for maintenance of anesthesia were different between the POCD and non-POCD patients. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, PRF ≥ 4.2% (odds ratio [OR] = 2.343; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.028-5.551; P = 0.046) and Sufentanil for maintenance of anesthesia (OR = 0.260; 95% CI: 0.057-0.859; P = 0.044) was independently associated with POCD as risk and protective factors, respectively. Our study suggests that POCD is frequent among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, in which decline of calculation, recall and attention was predominant. Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessments are important to identify the high-risk individuals of POCD.

Does Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Reduce the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium? A Quasi-experimental Study in Older Adults Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Postoperative delirium (POD) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is frequent in older adults and associated with multiple negative outcomes including a higher mortality. We aimed to investigate whether a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) prior to TAVI reduces the odds of POD and results in a positive change in self-care ability, intended to lay a foundation for future geriatric comanagement. We used a retrospective, single-center study with a quasi-experimental design enrolling patients aged 70 years and older undergoing CGA before elective TAVI, and a nonrandomized comparison group without preoperative CGA. Data on POD occurrence during the first 5 days after TAVI (primary outcome) and change in self-care ability index (SPI) between admission and discharge (secondary outcome) were collected from electronic health records and CGA data (exposure) by clinical assessment. To explore associations between (1) CGA and POD, and (2) CGA and SPI, multivariate logistic regression and linear regression models were applied adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and number of medications. Among 435 patients (mean age 81.0 ± 5.6 years, 43.6% women, median [IQR] SPI at baseline 40 [39, 40] points), POD incidence was 14.3% in the CGA group vs 18.8% in the non-CGA group (P 0.219). Undergoing CGA before TAVI was not associated with the odds for POD (OR: 1.15; 95%CI: 0.65-2.04) or improved SPI (P 0.073). We observed no association of CGA prior to TAVI with POD incidence or postoperative self-care, highlighting the need for additional studies investigating the effect of POD preventive measures in older TAVI patients integrated into a comprehensive geriatric comanagement program.

Comment on the Need to Fill a Gap in the Assessment of Neurological Status Before Elective Surgery.

Comment on the Need to Fill a Gap in the Assessment of Neurological Status Before Elective Surgery.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in older patients undergoing distal femur fracture surgery: A case-control study.

Geriatric fractures including distal femur and hip fractures are associated with high mortality rates. Currently, prognostic factors for in-hospital postoperative mortality are not identified. We aimed to evaluate overall in-hospital mortality and related potential risk factors in elderly patients who underwent distal femur fracture surgery. A retrospective cohort study of patients older than 60 years, who underwent distal femur fracture surgery between January 01, 2003, and December 31, 2021, was conducted. A case-control study was conducted to compare two age-matched groups of elderly patients of equivalent ages at a 1:4 ratio. The in-hospital mortality rate was calculated and potential confounders were compared between groups. A total of 170 patients were enrolled; five died during hospital stay after undergoing surgery, yielding a 2.94% in-hospital mortality rate. Twenty patients who did not die were included in the control group. Patients' demographics were similar. The case-control comparison showed that the time from injury to surgery, preoperative hemoglobin level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and white blood cell count were significant factors correlated with in-hospital mortality. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 2.94%. Significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality included a longer time from injury to surgery, lower preoperative hemoglobin level and eGFR, and higher preoperative white blood cell count. In conclusion, preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment, including cognitive, nutritional, and frailty status, should also be considered in the elderly fracture care model.

How Effective is Frailty and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment to Predict the Long-Term Mortality After General Surgery?

Introduction: This study investigated the effect of preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA) and frailty assessment on long-term mortality.Methods: This study which evaluated a total of 81 older patients underwent the CGA prior to general surgery. Katz ADL, the Lawton Brody IADL, the Mini-Nutrition Assessment test (MNAsf), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were performed. Fried criteria were utilized for the assessment of frailty. The Physiological and Operative Severity Scores for the Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) score, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were used for operative risk assessment. The patients were screened for 3-year mortality. Results: The median age of the patients was 71 years (range, 65-84 years). 58.02% of the patients were female and 24.69% were in the frail group. The mortality rate of the frail group was significantly higher than those of the pre-frail and robust groups (p: 0.030). The Cox regression analyses revealed that MMSE (p: 0.020), Physiological Severity Score (PSS) (p: 0.034), BUPA score (p: 0.030) and educational background (p: 0.031) were independently correlated with mortality in Model 1, while MNA (p: 0.003), PSS score (p: 0.080) and educational background (p: 0.002) were correlated with mortality in Model 2. ADL, MMSE, CDT, MNA-SF, Fried score, length of hospital stay, PSS score, and BUPA score were the best predictors of mortality (AUC values: 0.61, 0.74, 0.72, 0.73, 0.69, 0.74, 0.64, and 0.66respectively). Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrated that CGA components and frailty predicted long-term mortality in general surgery patients.

ASO Visual Abstract: Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Predicts Postoperative Risk in Older Patients with Esophageal Cancer.

ASO Visual Abstract: Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Predicts Postoperative Risk in Older Patients with Esophageal Cancer.

A Description of Interventions Prompted by Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and Optimization in Older Elective Noncardiac Surgical Patients.

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), a multicomponent, complex intervention, can be used to improve perioperative outcomes. This study aimed to describe the actions and interventions prompted by preoperative CGA and optimization in elective noncardiac, older, surgical patients. Retrospective observational study. Five hundred consecutive patients aged over 65years attending a preoperative CGA and optimization clinic in a single academic center. A retrospective review of electronic clinical records was undertaken. CGA prompted actions and interventions were categorized a priori and examined according to the perioperative pathway and frailty status. Patients received a median of nine interventions (IQR 6‒12, range 0‒28). Long-term condition medication changes were made in 375 (75.0%) patients, lifestyle advice provided in 269 (53.8%), therapy interventions delivered in 117 (23.4%), shared decision making documented in 495 (99.0%) with individualized admission plans documented in 410/426 (96.2%). Following CGA, 74/500 (14.8%) patients did not undergo surgery and were more likely to have benign pathology (69% vs 53%, P= .01), higher frailty scores (Edmonton Frail Scale 8 (IQR 5‒10) vs 4 (IQR 2-6), P < .001), lower functional status (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living 33 (IQR 16‒47) vs 57 (IQR 45‒64), P < .001) or cognitive scores (Montreal Cognitive Assessment 19 (IQR 14‒24) vs 24 (IQR 20‒26), P < .001). This study provides a description of actions and interventions prompted by preoperative CGA at one center. Such a detailed exploration of the CGA process and the clinical skills necessary to deliver it, should be used to inform future multicenter studies and the development and implementation of perioperative services for older patients.

Preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Predicts Postoperative Risk in Older Patients with Esophageal Cancer.

Preoperative risk assessment is important in older patients because they often have comorbidities and impaired organ function. We performed preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for older patients with esophageal cancer. A total of 217 patients over 75 years old who underwent esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer were analyzed. The CGA was performed preoperatively and included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Score (GDS), vitality index, Barthel index, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). We defined the robust group as patients with normal function on every instrument, and the pre-frail and frail groups as those with functional impairment on one instrument or two or more instruments, respectively. We assessed how the CGA correlated with postoperative complications and prognosis. Of the 217 patients, 86 (39.6%) were in the robust group, 68 (31.3%) in the pre-frail group, and 63 (29.0%) in the frail group. Postoperative pneumonia (P = 0.026) and anastomotic leakage (P = 0.032) were significantly more common in the frail group. The frail group had a significantly longer postoperative hospitalization period (P = 0.016) and significantly lower rate of discharge to home (P = 0.016). Overall survival (OS) was significantly worse in the frail group (5-year overall survival rate, frail group versus others, 37.8% versus 52.0%, P = 0.046), but it was not significant on multivariate analysis. The preoperative CGA in older patients with esophageal cancer was associated with risk of postoperative complications.

The Charlson Comorbidity Index and depression are associated with satisfaction after short-segment lumbar fusion in patients 75 years and older.

BackgroundThe rate and volume of lumbar spinal fusion (LSF) surgery performed for patients aged 75 years and older increased in recent years. The purposes of our study were to identify factors associated with postoperative dissatisfaction and evaluate the predictive value of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for dissatisfaction at 2 years after elective short-segment (one- or two- level) LSF in patients aged 75 and older.MethodsThis was a retrospective study using a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients (aged 75 and older) who underwent elective short-segment transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery for degenerative diseases from June 2018 to May 2020. Preoperative CGA consisting six domains was performed for each patient 1 day before the operative day. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that predict for dissatisfaction with surgical treatment. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction with LSF surgery, as measured by the North American Spine Society (NASS) satisfaction scale. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, the length of stay, visual analog scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index.ResultsA total of 211 patients were available for a follow-up at 2 years and included in our final study cohort with a mean age of 80.0 years. A total of 175 patients (82.9%) were included in the satisfied group, and 36 patients (17.1%) were included in the not dissatisfied group. In the dissatisfied group, there was a higher incidence of postoperative complications (30.6% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.024) and greater VAS scores for lower back (4.3 ± 1.9 vs. 1.3 ± 1.4, p = 0.001) and leg (3.9 ± 2.1 vs. 0.9 ± 1.3, p = 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that patients with greater CCI score [odd ratio (OR) 2.56, 95% CI, 1.12–5.76; p = 0.030 for CCI 1 or 2 and OR 6.20, 95% CI, 1.20–28.69; p = 0.024], and depression (OR 3.34, 95% CI, 1.26–9.20; p = 0.016) were more likely to be dissatisfied compared with patients with the CCI score of 0 and without depression.ConclusionsSatisfaction after LSF in older patients (aged 75 and older) was similar to that of previously reported younger patients. Preoperative depression and higher CCI scores were independent risk factors for postoperative dissatisfaction two years after LSF surgery. These results help inform decision-making when considering LSF surgery for patients aged 75 and older.

Límites y desafíos de la cirugía urooncológica en el paciente anciano: Una visión crítica sobre el manejo del cáncer de próstata, vejiga y riñón

Due to the increase in life expectancy, challenging scenarios in oncogeriatrics are becoming more common in clinical practice. The outcomes of curative cancer treatments, which have shown benefits in the general population, are not always studied in elderly patients. Chronological age alone may not accurately correlate with the risk of complications or the potential benefit in survival, in contrast to the increasingly used frailty scores. Therefore, an adequate preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment is essential. This review addresses the challenge of decision-making regarding surgical treatment of the most frequent urological cancers in elderly patients. Prostate cancer in elderly patients implies a complex scenario; life expectancy represents a determining factor given its often indolent behavior, in order to avoid overtreatment. It is crucial to face this challenge focusing on cancer screening primarily. In the literature, there are heterogeneous data regarding survival, although a similar rate of surgical complications and worse functional outcomes than younger patients have been reported. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the elderly also represents a challenge, because of the high rate of complications of radical cystectomy and the evidence of lower overall and cancer-specific survival in this group of patients. Finally, the key elements in the management of kidney cancer in elderly patients who are candidates for surgical treatment are the need to preserve renal function (considering nephron-sparing surgery) and the limited data regarding benefit in overall survival. For this reason, active surveillance of small renal masses can be a useful strategy.

Impact of a geriatric assessment and optimisation-based preoperative clinic on the management of older patients receiving dental treatment under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation: A service evaluation.

The main objectives of the study were to review patient characteristics, recommendations made and treatment outcomes of frail/older patients referred to a specialist multidisciplinary geriatric assessment and optimisation-based preoperative clinic (PROKARE), prior to patients receiving dental treatment under general anaesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS). Although the use of preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment to improve pre/peri and postoperative mortality has been reported for many surgical domains, its use prior to dental surgery has not been reported previously. The data were collected retrospectively from the dental notes of 52 patients referred from the Special Care Dental (SCD) Department to the PROKARE service for optimisation prior to dental treatment under GA/CS using a case note study approach. The data extracted included patient demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical management and the treatment outcomes for each patient. The data extracted was analysed with descriptive statistics. Key reasons for referral were caries management, retained roots and poor co-operation. Multiple co-morbidities were noted among the patients referred, with 14 (27%) having four or more co-morbidities. The PROKARE assessment identified issues such as treatment could be carried out under CS instead of GA; consent; and the need for medication change and/or further medical investigations. As per recommendations from PROKARE, 39 patients (75%) received dental treatment while five (10%) did not receive treatment, and a further eight (15%) died prior to treatment. Geriatric assessment and optimisation-based preoperative clinics in the dental management of frail, elderly patients having treatment under GA or CS techniques is valuable, but further research and assessment of current service provision are needed to increase the evidence base.

Use of the comprehensive geriatric assessment for the prediction of postoperative complications in elderly patients with head and neck cancer.

To determine the efficacy of preoperative Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in predicting postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery. Medical records of patients aged ≥70 who underwent elective head and neck cancer surgery were reviewed. CGA scores were prospectively collected prior to surgery and analyzed to determine their association with postoperative complications. Of the 65 patients enrolled in this study, 34 (52.3%) with deficits in two or more preoperative CGA domains were categorized as "frail." Fourteen patients (21.5%) experienced postoperative complications. Age was not a risk factor for the complications (p=0.504). The multivariate analysis indicated that major postoperative complications were significantly associated with frailty (odds ratio [OR]=21.9, p=0.039), operation time (OR=39, p=0.048), and estimated blood loss (OR=19.8, p=0.043). Frailty assessed by preoperative CGA, but not chronological age, was significantly associated with major postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery.

Length of Stay in Older Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Value of a Geriatric Approach

Background: For patients with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), increased length of stay (LOS) is associated with increased long-term mortality. The main objective of our study was to analyze the association between geriatrics factors and the hospital LOS for older patients undergoing TAVR for severe aortic stenosis. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included all patients aged ≥75 who underwent TAVR between January 2018 and January 2019. Hospital LOS and postoperative complications were analyzed regarding the geriatric factors recorded during a systematic preoperative, comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). The individualized-care plans established after the preoperative CGA were also analyzed. Results: median LOS of the 196 patients included was 6 days (interquartile range: 4–8), and 29% of patients had prolonged LOS. In a multivariable analysis, the preoperative factors associated with a prolonged hospital LOS were EuroSCORE I (p value = 0.02), prior major neurocognitive disorders (p value = 0.01), femoral access (p value <0.001), all complications (p value <0.001), and discharge in a rehabilitation center (p value <0.001). One-fourth (27%) of the patients had at least 1 geriatric complication. After CGA, 69 patients did not need any geriatric recommendation, whereas for the 127 other patients, an individualized-care plan was established but only 46 (36%) of them were followed up. Conclusion: Our results favor the preoperative screening for major neurocognitive disorders in order to reduce LOS. Furthermore, the proposed individual-care plans after CGA were poorly followed. Practitioners may perceive the preoperative CGA as a screening tool, but its primary objective is to develop an individualized-care plan as a prehabilitation plan in order to optimize the physical, functional, and social issues.

Prognostic Value of Glycated Hemoglobin in Frail Older Diabetic Patients With Hip Fracture.

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown increased risk of fracture in older patients with poor or strict glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c, ≥ 8% or < 6-7% respectively); however, these reports did not investigate the oldest-old population. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and a patient-centered approach have been proven to improve the quality of care in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the older patients, but data regarding T2DM in patients with fragility fractures are still lacking.AimTo investigate the prognostic role of HbA1c and frailty level in older diabetic patients admitted for hip fracture.MethodsProspective observational cohort study conducted on diabetic geriatric patients consecutively hospitalized for hip fracture in the orthogeriatric unit of a tertiary care hospital. Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was performed. Using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), diabetic patients were categorized in robust (CFS < 5) and frail (CFS ≥ 5), and further stratified according to HbA1c values [Tertile 1 (T1) HbA1c < 48 mmol/mol, Tertile 2 (T2) 48-58 mmol/mol and Tertile 3 (T3) > 58 mmol/mol). Comparisons between continuous variables were performed with analysis of non-parametric test for independent samples, while relationships between categorical variables were assessed by chi-square test. Using logistic multivariate regression, we evaluated the determinants of 1-year all-cause mortality in diabetic older patients with hip fracture.ResultsAmong the 1319 older patients (mean age 82.8 ± 7.5 years, 75.9% females) hospitalized for hip fracture, 204 (15.5%) had a previous diagnosis of T2DM. T2DM patients showed an increased proportion of multiple concurrent fractures occurred during the accidental fall or syncope (12.7% vs 11.2%, p=0.02). One-year mortality after hip fracture surgery was significantly higher in T2DM as compared to not diabetic patients (21.2% vs 12.5%, p<0.001). No significant difference in mortality was found across HbA1c tertiles; however, frail diabetic patients in the second and third HbA1c tertiles showed higher mortality risk compared to the robust counterparts (26.9% vs 5%, p=0.001 for T2 and 43.5% vs 13.3%, p=<0.05 for T3), while no difference was observed among those in T1.ConclusionsFrail patients with HbA1c ≥ 48 mmol/L showed an increased mortality risk as compared to robust counterparts. CFS represents an important tool to select diabetic subjects with higher likelihood of adverse outcome.

Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimisation prior to elective arterial vascular surgery: a health economic analysis.

increasing numbers of older people are undergoing vascular surgery. Preoperative comprehensive geriatric assessment and optimisation (CGA) reduces postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. Establishing CGA-based perioperative services requires health economic evaluation prior to implementation. Through a modelling-based economic evaluation, using data from a single site clinical trial, this study evaluates whether CGA is a cost-effective alternative to standard preoperative assessment for older patients undergoing elective arterial surgery. an economic evaluation, using decision-analytic modelling, comparing preoperative CGA and optimisation with standard preoperative care, was undertaken in older patients undergoing elective arterial surgery. The incremental net health benefit of CGA, expressed in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), was used to evaluate cost-effectiveness. CGA is a cost-effective substitute for standard preoperative care in elective arterial surgery across a range of cost-effectiveness threshold values. An incremental net benefit of 0.58 QALYs at a cost-effectiveness threshold of £30k, 0.60 QALYs at a threshold of £20k and 0.63 QALYs at a threshold of £13k was observed. Mean total pre- and postoperative health care utilisation costs were estimated to be £1,165 lower for CGA patients largely accounted for by reduced postoperative bed day utilisation. this study demonstrates a likely health economic benefit in addition to the previously described clinical benefit of employing CGA methodology in the preoperative setting in older patients undergoing arterial surgery. Further evaluation should examine whether CGA-based perioperative services can be effectively implemented and achieve the same clinical and health economic outcomes at scale.

Effects of comprehensive geriatric care models on postoperative outcomes in geriatric surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe elderly population is highly susceptible to develop post-operative complications after major surgeries. It is not clear whether the comprehensive geriatric care models are effective in reducing adverse events. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine whether the comprehensive geriatric care models improved clinical outcomes, particularly in decreasing the prevalence of delirium and length of hospital stay (LOS) in elderly surgical patients.MethodWe searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Emcare Nursing, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials. Gov, and ICTRP between 2009 to January 23, 2020. We included studies on geriatric care models in elderly patients (≥60 years) undergoing elective, non-cardiac high-risk surgery. The outcomes were the prevalence of delirium, LOS, rates of 30-days readmission, and 30-days mortality. We used the Cochrane Review Manager Version 5.3. to estimate the pooled Odds Ratio (OR) and Mean Difference (MD) using random effect model analysis.ResultsEleven studies were included with 2672 patients [Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs): 4; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials (Non-RCTs): 7]. Data pooled from six studies showed that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of delirium between the intervention and control groups: 13.8% vs 15.9% (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.30–1.96; p = 0.57). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the LOS (MD: -0.55; 95% CI: − 2.28, 1.18; p = 0.53), 30-day readmission (12.1% vs. 14.3%; OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.67–1.77; p = 0.73), and 30-day mortality (3.2% vs. 2.1%; OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 0.66–2.69; p = 0.42). The quality of evidence was very low.ConclusionsThe geriatric care models involved pre-operative comprehensive geriatric assessment, and intervention tools to address cognition, frailty, and functional status. In non-cardiac high-risk surgeries, these care models did not show any significant difference in the prevalence of delirium, LOS, 30-days readmission rates, and 30-day mortality in geriatric patients. Further RCTs are warranted to evaluate these models on the postoperative outcomes.Trial registrationPROSPERO registration number - CRD42020181779.

Geriatric assessment and intervention in older vulnerable patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial (GEPOC trial)

BackgroundThe incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) increases with age. Older patients are a heterogeneous group ranging from fit to frail with various comorbidities. Frail older patients with CRC are at increased risk of negative outcomes and functional decline after cancer surgery compared to younger and fit older patients. Maintenance of independence after treatment is rarely investigated in clinical trials despite older patients value it as high as survival. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is an evaluation of an older persons’ medical, psychosocial, and functional capabilities to develop an overall plan for treatment and follow-up. The beneficial effect of CGA is well documented in the fields of medicine and orthopaedic surgery, but evidence is lacking in cancer surgery. We aim to investigate the effect of CGA on physical performance in older frail patients undergoing surgery for CRC.MethodsGEPOC is a single centre randomised controlled trial including older patients (≥65 years) undergoing surgical resection for primary CRC. Frail patients (≤14/17 points using the G8 screening tool) will be randomised 1:1 to geriatric intervention and exercise (n = 50) or standard of care along (n = 50) with their standard surgical procedure. Intervention includes preoperative CGA, perioperative geriatric in-ward review and postoperative follow-up. All patients in the intervention group will participate in a pre- and postoperative resistance exercise programme (twice/week, 2 + 12 weeks). Primary endpoint is change in 30-s chair stand test. Assessment of primary endpoint will be performed by physiotherapists blinded to patient allocation. Secondary endpoints: changes in health related quality of life, physical strength and capacity (handgrip strength, gait speed and 6 min walking test), patient perceived quality of recovery, complications to surgery, body composition (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectric impedance), serum biomarkers, readmission, length of stay and survival.DiscussionThis ongoing trial will provide valuable knowledge on whether preoperative CGA and postoperative geriatric follow-up and intervention including an exercise program can counteract physical decline and improve quality of life in frail CRC patients undergoing surgery.Trial registrationProspectively registered at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03719573 (October 2018).

Association of Preoperative Geriatric Assessment With Length of Stay After Combined Cardiac Surgery

For older patients undergoing cardiac surgery, geriatric factors are known to increase postoperative complications and prolong length of stay (LOS). Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is an evidence-based method for geriatric evaluation to develop an individualized-care plan to optimize physical, functional, and social issues. This study analyzed the association between preoperative CGA and hospital LOS after combined cardiac surgery. This retrospective monocentric study included all patients aged 75 years and greater who underwent combined cardiac surgery between 2014 and 2017. Hospital LOS, intensive care unit LOS, and postoperative complications were compared between patients with or without preoperative CGA before and after propensity-score matching. Mean age of the 407 patients was 79.6 years; 114 underwent a preoperative CGA (28%). For 305 patients (74.9%), coronary artery bypass was associated with aortic valve replacement. After propensity-score matching, a significant difference was found between the 2 groups (preoperative CGA versus none) for in-hospital LOS (12 versus 13 days; P= .04) and intensive care unit LOS (3 versus 4 days; P= .01). In multivariable analysis, a significant association remained between hospital LOS and CGA (P= .02), renal function (P= .02), mitral replacement (P= .001), and complications (P= .001). Our results favor the use of systematic preoperative CGA. These encouraging results need to be validated by prospective studies that assess the impact of individualized-care plan established after CGA on postoperative outcomes. With an aging population, efforts are required to determine how to implement preoperative individualized-care plans to improve postoperative outcomes for vulnerable patients undergoing cardiac surgery.