Reconsideration of frailty in relation to surgical indication

Kay Maeda, Yoshikatsu Saiki

Given that an increasing number of elderly patients are undergoing surgical procedures for a diversity of indications, the concept of frailty is currently being examined in more depth in clinical medicine. Established surgical risk scores designed to predict mortality are mainly focused on general demographic information and clinical factors; however, these do not account for the frailty condition. With vulnerability and low resiliency in the frail elderly, these conventional scores are unable to accurately predict postoperative outcomes including adverse complications, disability, the need for additional rehabilitation, and prolonged length of hospitalization. Over the last decade, it has been demonstrated that frailty is an independent risk factor of surgery and strongly associated with adverse postoperative outcomes and mortality. It is essential today that surgeons assimilate the concept of frailty and the relationship between frailty and surgical outcomes. A preoperative frailty assessment can assist in determining surgical indication and optimal perioperative management, ultimately impacting the postoperative functional state and quality of life. Here we review the validity of preoperative frailty assessments for surgical intervention, possible treatments for frailty, and indicate future directions in this field.