Browsing by Subject "Frailty"
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Item Open Access A Risk-Benefit Analysis of Increasing Surgical Invasiveness Relative to Frailty Status in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.(Spine, 2021-08) Passias, Peter G; Brown, Avery E; Bortz, Cole; Pierce, Katherine; Alas, Haddy; Ahmad, Waleed; Passfall, Lara; Kummer, Nicholas; Krol, Oscar; Lafage, Renaud; Lafage, Virginie; Burton, Douglas; Hart, Robert; Anand, Neel; Mundis, Gregory; Neuman, Brian; Line, Breton; Shaffrey, Christopher; Klineberg, Eric; Smith, Justin; Ames, Christopher; Schwab, Frank J; Bess, Shay; International Spine Study GroupStudy design
Retrospective review of a prospectively enrolled multicenter Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) database.Objective
Investigate invasiveness and outcomes of ASD surgery by frailty state.Summary of background data
The ASD Invasiveness Index incorporates deformity-specific components to assess correction magnitude. Intersections of invasiveness, surgical outcomes, and frailty state are understudied.Methods
ASD patients with baseline and 3-year (3Y) data were included. Logistic regression analyzed the relationship between increasing invasiveness and major complications or reoperations and meeting minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for health-related quality-of-life measures at 3Y. Decision tree analysis assessed invasiveness risk-benefit cutoff points, above which experiencing complications or reoperations and not reaching MCID were higher. Significance was set to P < 0.05.Results
Overall, 195 of 322 patients were included. Baseline demographics: age 59.9 ± 14.4, 75% female, BMI 27.8 ± 6.2, mean Charlson Comorbidity Index: 1.7 ± 1.7. Surgical information: 61% osteotomy, 52% decompression, 11.0 ± 4.1 levels fused. There were 98 not frail (NF), 65 frail (F), and 30 severely frail (SF) patients. Relationships were found between increasing invasiveness and experiencing a major complication or reoperation for the entire cohort and by frailty group (all P < 0.05). Defining a favorable outcome as no major complications or reoperation and meeting MCID in any health-related quality of life at 3Y established an invasiveness cutoff of 63.9. Patients below this threshold were 1.8[1.38-2.35] (P < 0.001) times more likely to achieve favorable outcome. For NF patients, the cutoff was 79.3 (2.11[1.39-3.20] (P < 0.001), 111 for F (2.62 [1.70-4.06] (P < 0.001), and 53.3 for SF (2.35[0.78-7.13] (P = 0.13).Conclusion
Increasing invasiveness is associated with increased odds of major complications and reoperations. Risk-benefit cutoffs for successful outcomes were 79.3 for NF, 111 for F, and 53.3 for SF patients. Above these, increasing invasiveness has increasing risk of major complications or reoperations and not meeting MCID at 3Y.Level of Evidence: 3.Item Open Access An assessment of frailty as a tool for risk stratification in adult spinal deformity surgery.(Neurosurgical focus, 2017-12) Miller, Emily K; Neuman, Brian J; Jain, Amit; Daniels, Alan H; Ailon, Tamir; Sciubba, Daniel M; Kebaish, Khaled M; Lafage, Virginie; Scheer, Justin K; Smith, Justin S; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study GroupOBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to analyze the value of an adult spinal deformity frailty index (ASD-FI) in preoperative risk stratification. Preoperative risk assessment is imperative before procedures known to have high complication rates, such as ASD surgery. Frailty has been associated with risk of complications in trauma surgery, and preoperative frailty assessments could improve the accuracy of risk stratification by providing a comprehensive analysis of patient factors that contribute to an increased risk of complications. METHODS Using 40 variables, the authors calculated frailty scores with a validated method for 417 patients (enrolled between 2010 and 2014) with a minimum 2-year follow-up in an ASD database. On the basis of these scores, the authors categorized patients as not frail (NF) (< 0.3 points), frail (0.3-0.5 points), or severely frail (SF) (> 0.5 points). The correlation between frailty category and incidence of complications was analyzed. RESULTS The overall mean ASD-FI score was 0.33 (range 0.0-0.8). Compared with NF patients (n = 183), frail patients (n = 158) and SF patients (n = 109) had longer mean hospital stays (1.2 and 1.6 times longer, respectively; p < 0.001). The adjusted odds of experiencing a major intraoperative or postoperative complication were higher for frail patients (OR 2.8) and SF patients ( 4.1) compared with NF patients (p < 0.01). For frail and SF patients, respectively, the adjusted odds of developing proximal junctional kyphosis (OR 2.8 and 3.1) were higher than those for NF patients. The SF patients had higher odds of developing pseudarthrosis (OR 13.0), deep wound infection (OR 8.0), and wound dehiscence (OR 13.4) than NF patients (p < 0.05), and they had 2.1 times greater odds of reoperation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Greater patient frailty, as measured by the ASD-FI, was associated with worse outcome in many common quality and value metrics, including greater risk of major complications, proximal junctional kyphosis, pseudarthrosis, deep wound infection, wound dehiscence, reoperation, and longer hospital stay.Item Open Access Assessment of a Novel Adult Cervical Deformity Frailty Index as a Component of Preoperative Risk Stratification.(World neurosurgery, 2018-01) Miller, Emily K; Ailon, Tamir; Neuman, Brian J; Klineberg, Eric O; Mundis, Gregory M; Sciubba, Daniel M; Kebaish, Khaled M; Lafage, Virginie; Scheer, Justin K; Smith, Justin S; Hamilton, D Kojo; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study GroupTo determine the value of a novel adult cervical deformity frailty index (CD-FI) in preoperative risk stratification.We reviewed a prospective, multicenter database of adults with cervical spine deformity. We selected 40 variables to construct the CD-FI using a validated method. Patients were categorized as not frail (NF) (<0.2), frail (0.2-0.4), or severely frail (SF) (>0.4) according to CD-FI score. We performed multivariate logistic regression to determine the relationships between CD-FI score and incidence of complications, length of hospital stay, and discharge disposition.Of 61 patients enrolled from 2009 to 2015 with at least 1 year of follow-up, the mean CD-FI score was 0.26 (range 0.25-0.59). Seventeen patients were categorized as NF, 34 as frail, and 10 as SF. The incidence of major complications increased with greater frailty, with a gamma correlation coefficient of 0.25 (asymptotic standard error, 0.22). The odds of having a major complication were greater for frail patients (odds ratio 4.4; 95% confidence interval 0.6-32) and SF patients (odds ratio 43; 95% confidence interval 2.7-684) compared with NF patients. Greater frailty was associated with a greater incidence of medical complications and had a gamma correlation coefficient of 0.30 (asymptotic standard error, 0.26). Surgical complications, discharge disposition, and length of hospital stay did not correlate significantly with frailty.Greater frailty was associated with greater risk of major complications for patients undergoing cervical spine deformity surgery. The CD-FI may be used to improve the accuracy of preoperative risk stratification and allow for adequate patient counseling.Item Open Access Assessments of frailty in bladder cancer.(Urologic oncology, 2020-05-22) Grimberg, Dominic C; Shah, Ankeet; Molinger, Jeroen; Whittle, John; Gupta, Rajan T; Wischmeyer, Paul E; McDonald, Shelley R; Inman, Brant ABACKGROUND AND AIMS:The incidence of frailty is increasing as the population ages, which has important clinical implications given the associations between frailty and poor outcomes in the bladder cancer population. Due to a multi-organ system decline and decreased physiologic reserve, frail patients are vulnerable to stressors of disease and have poorer mortality and morbidity rates than their nonfrail peers. The association between frailty and poor outcomes has been documented across multiple populations, including radical cystectomy, creating a need for frailty assessments to be used preoperatively for risk stratification. We aim to provide a review of the common frailty assessments and their relevance to radical cystectomy patients. FINDINGS:A variety of assessments for frailty exist, from short screening items to comprehensive geriatric assessments. The syndrome spans multiple organ systems, as do the potential diagnostic instruments. Some instruments are less practical for use in clinical practice by urologists, such as the Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. The tool most studied in radical cystectomy is the modified Frailty Index, associated with high grade complications and 30-days mortality. Frailty often coexists with malnutrition and sarcopenia, stressing the importance of screening for and addressing these syndromes to improve patient's perioperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS:There is no universally agreed upon frailty assessment, but the most studied in radical cystectomy is the modified Frailty Index, providing valuable data with which to counsel patients preoperatively. Alterations in immune phenotypes provide potential future diagnostic biomarkers for frailty.Item Open Access Association between Dysphagia and Surgical Outcomes across the Continuum of Frailty.(Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics, 2021-04) Cohen, Seth M; Porter Starr, Kathryn N; Risoli, Thomas; Lee, Hui-Jie; Misono, Stephanie; Jones, Harrison; Raman, SudhaThis study examined the relationship between dysphagia and adverse outcomes across frailty conditions among surgical patients ≥50 years of age. A retrospective cohort analysis of surgical hospitalizations in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample among patients ≥50 years of age undergoing intermediate/high risk surgery not involving the larynx, pharynx, or esophagus. Of 3,298,835 weighted surgical hospitalizations, dysphagia occurred in 1.2% of all hospitalizations and was higher in frail patients ranging from 5.4% to 11.7%. Dysphagia was associated with greater length of stay, higher total costs, increased non-routine discharges, and increased medical/surgical complications among both frail and non-frail patients. Dysphagia may be an independent risk factor for poor postoperative outcomes among surgical patients ≥50 years of age across frailty conditions and is an important consideration for providers seeking to reduce risk in vulnerable surgical populations.Item Open Access Baseline Frailty Status Influences Recovery Patterns and Outcomes Following Alignment Correction of Cervical Deformity.(Neurosurgery, 2021-05) Pierce, Katherine E; Passias, Peter G; Daniels, Alan H; Lafage, Renaud; Ahmad, Waleed; Naessig, Sara; Lafage, Virginie; Protopsaltis, Themistocles; Eastlack, Robert; Hart, Robert; Burton, Douglas; Bess, Shay; Schwab, Frank; Shaffrey, Christopher; Smith, Justin S; Ames, ChristopherBackground
Frailty severity may be an important determinant for impaired recovery after cervical spine deformity (CD) corrective surgery.Objective
To evaluate postop clinical recovery among CD patients between frailty states undergoing primary procedures.Methods
Patients >18 yr old undergoing surgery for CD with health-related quality of life (HRQL) data at baseline, 3-mo, and 1-yr postoperative were identified. Patients were stratified by the modified CD frailty index scale from 0 to 1 (no frailty [NF] <0.3, mild/severe fraily [F] >0.3). Patients in NF and F groups were propensity score matched for TS-CL (T1 slope [TS] minus angle between the C2 inferior end plate and the C7 inferior end plate [CL]) to control for baseline deformity. Area under the curve was calculated for follow-up time intervals determining overall normalized, time-adjusted HRQL outcomes; Integrated Health State (IHS) was compared between NF and F groups.Results
A total of 106 CD patients were included (61.7 yr, 66% F, 27.7 kg/m2)-by frailty group: 52.8% NF, 47.2% F. After propensity score matching for TS-CL (mean: 38.1°), 38 patients remained in each of the NF and F groups. IHS-adjusted HRQL outcomes from baseline to 1 yr showed a significant difference in Euro-Qol 5 Dimension scores (NF: 1.02, F: 1.07, P = .016). No significant differences were found in the IHS Neck Disability Index (NDI) and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association between frailty groups (P > .05). F patients had more postop major complications (31.3%) compared to the NF (8.9%), P = .004, though DJK occurrence and reoperation between the groups was not significant.Conclusion
While all groups exhibited improved postop disability and pain scores, frail patients experienced greater amount of improvement in overall health state compared to baseline disability. This signifies that with frailty severity, patients have more room for improvement postop compared to baseline quality of life.Item Open Access Development of a Modified Cervical Deformity Frailty Index: A Streamlined Clinical Tool for Preoperative Risk Stratification.(Spine, 2019-02) Passias, Peter G; Bortz, Cole A; Segreto, Frank A; Horn, Samantha R; Lafage, Renaud; Lafage, Virginie; Smith, Justin S; Line, Breton; Kim, Han Jo; Eastlack, Robert; Hamilton, David Kojo; Protopsaltis, Themistocles; Hostin, Richard A; Klineberg, Eric O; Burton, Douglas C; Hart, Robert A; Schwab, Frank J; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study GroupStudy design
Retrospective review.Objective
Develop a simplified frailty index for cervical deformity (CD) patients.Summary of background data
To improve preoperative risk stratification for surgical CD patients, a CD frailty index (CD-FI) incorporating 40 health deficits was developed. While novel, the CD-FI is clinically impractical due to the large number of factors needed for its calculation. To increase clinical utility, a simpler, modified CD-FI (mCD-FI) is necessary.Methods
CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb>10°, CL>10°, cSVA>4 cm, or CBVA>25°) >18 year with preoperative CD-FI component factors. Pearson bivariate correlation assessed relationships between component deficits of the CD-FI and overall CD-FI score. Top deficits contributing to CD-FI score were included in multiple stepwise regression models. Deficits from model with largest R were dichotomized, and the mean score of all deficits calculated, resulting in mCD-FI score from 0 to 1. Patients were stratified by mCD-FI: Not Frail (NF, <0.3), Frail (0.3-0.5), Severely Frail (SF, >0.5). Means comparison tests established correlations between frailty category and clinical outcomes.Results
Included: 121 CD patients (61 ± 11 yr, 60%F). Multiple stepwise regression models identified 15 deficits as responsible for 86% of the variation in CD-FI; these factors were used to construct the mCD-FI. Overall, mean mCD-FI was 0.31 ± 0.14. Breakdown of patients by mCD-FI category: NF: 47.9%, Frail: 46.3%, SF: 5.8%. Compared with NF and Frail, SF patients had the longest inpatient hospital stays (P = 0.042), as well as greater baseline neck pain (P = 0.033), inferior Neck Disability Index scores (P<0.001) and inferior EQ-5D scores (P < 0.001). Frail patients had higher odds of superficial infection (OR:1.1[1.0-1.2]), and SF patients had increased odds of mortality (OR:8.3[1.3-53.9]).Conclusion
Increased frailty, assessed by mCD-FI, correlated with increased length of stay, neck pain, and decreased health-related quality of life. Frail patients were at greater risk for infection, and severely frail patients had greater odds of mortality. This relationship between frailty and clinical outcomes suggests that mCD-FI offers clinical utility as a preoperative risk stratification tool.Level of evidence
3.Item Open Access Does Patient Frailty Status Influence Recovery Following Spinal Fusion for Adult Spinal Deformity?: An Analysis of Patients With 3-Year Follow-up.(Spine, 2020-04) Pierce, Katherine E; Passias, Peter G; Alas, Haddy; Brown, Avery E; Bortz, Cole A; Lafage, Renaud; Lafage, Virginie; Ames, Christopher; Burton, Douglas C; Hart, Robert; Hamilton, Kojo; Kelly, Michael; Hostin, Richard; Bess, Shay; Klineberg, Eric; Line, Breton; Shaffrey, Christopher; Mummaneni, Praveen; Smith, Justin S; Schwab, Frank A; International Spine Study Group (ISSG)Study design
Retrospective review of a prospective database.Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate postop clinical recovery among adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients between frailty states undergoing primary procedures SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA.: Frailty severity may be an important determinant for impaired recovery after corrective surgery.Methods
It included ASD patients with health-related quality of life (HRQLs) at baseline (BL), 1 year (1Y), and 3 years (3Y). Patients stratified by frailty by ASD-frailty index scale 0-1(no frailty: <0.3 [NF], mild: 0.3-0.5 [MF], severe: >0.5 [SF]). Demographics, alignment, and SRS-Schwab modifiers were assessed with χ/paired t tests to compare HRQLs: Scoliosis Research Society 22-question Questionnaire (SRS-22), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Back/Leg Pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Area-under-the-curve (AUC) method generated normalized HRQL scores at baseline (BL) and f/u intervals (1Y, 3Y). AUC was calculated for each f/u, and total area was divided by cumulative f/u, generating one number describing recovery (Integrated Health State [IHS]).Results
A total of 191 patients were included (59 years, 80% females). Breakdown of patients by frailty status: 43.6% NF, 40.8% MF, 15.6% SF. SF patients were older (P = 0.003), >body mass index (P = 0.002). MF and SF were significantly (P < 0.001) more malaligned at BL: pelvic tilt (NF: 21.6°; MF: 27.3°; SF: 22.1°), pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis (7.4°, 21.2°, 19.7°), sagittal vertical axis (31 mm, 87 mm, 82 mm). By SRS-Schwab, NF were mostly minor (40%), and MF and SF markedly deformed (64%, 57%). Frailty groups exhibited BL to 3Y improvement in SRS-22, ODI, NRS Back/Leg (P < 0.001). After HRQL normalization, SF had improvement in SRS-22 at year 1 and year 3 (P < 0.001), and NRS Back at 1Y. 3Y IHS showed a significant difference in SRS-22 (NF: 1.2 vs. MF: 1.32 vs. SF: 1.69, P < 0.001) and NRS Back Pain (NF: 0.52, MF: 0.66, SF: 0.6, P = 0.025) between frailty groups. SF had more complications (79%). SF/marked deformity had larger invasiveness score (112) compared to MF/moderate deformity (86.2). Controlling for baseline deformity and invasiveness, SF showed more improvement in SRS-22 IHS (NF: 1.21, MF: 1.32, SF: 1.66, P < 0.001).Conclusion
Although all frailty groups exhibited improved postop disability/pain scores, SF patients recovered better in SRS-22 and NRS Back. Despite SF patients having more complications and larger invasiveness scores, they had overall better patient-reported outcomes, signifying that with frailty severity, patients have more room for improvement postop compared to BL quality of life.Level of evidence
3.Item Open Access Examination of the Economic Burden of Frailty in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity Undergoing Surgical Intervention.(Neurosurgery, 2022-01) Passias, Peter G; Ahmad, Waleed; Kummer, Nicholas; Lafage, Renaud; Lafage, Virginie; Kebaish, Khaled; Daniels, Alan; Klineberg, Eric; Soroceanu, Alex; Gum, Jeffrey; Line, Breton; Hart, Robert; Burton, Douglas; Eastlack, Robert; Jain, Amit; Smith, Justin S; Ames, Christopher P; Shaffrey, Christopher; Schwab, Frank; Hostin, Richard; Bess, Shay; International Spine Study Group***Background
With increasing interest in cost optimization, costs of adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery intersections with frailty merit investigation.Objective
To investigate costs associated with ASD and frailty.Methods
Patients with ASD (scoliosis ≥20°, sagittal vertical axis [SVA] ≥5 cm, pelvic tilt ≥ 25°, or thoracic kyphosis ≥ 60°) with baseline and 2-yr radiographic data were included. Patients were severely frail (SF), frail (F), or not frail (NF). Utility data were converted from Oswestry Disability Index to Short-Form Six-Dimension. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) used 3% rate for decline to life expectancy. Costs were calculated using PearlDiver. Loss of work costs were based on SRS-22rQ9 and US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accounting for complications, length of stay, revisions, and death, cost per QALY at 2 yr and life expectancy were calculated.Results
Five hundred ninety-two patients with ASD were included (59.8 ± 14.0 yr, 80% F, body mass index: 27.7 ± 6.0 kg/m2, Adult Spinal Deformity-Frailty Index: 3.3 ± 1.6, and Charlson Comorbidity Index: 1.8 ± 1.7). The average blood loss was 1569.3 mL, and the operative time was 376.6 min, with 63% undergoing osteotomy and 54% decompression. 69.3% had a posterior-only approach, 30% combined, and 0.7% anterior-only. 4.7% were SF, 22.3% F, and 73.0% NF. At baseline, 104 were unemployed losing $971.38 weekly. After 1 yr, 62 remained unemployed losing $50 508.64 yearly. With propensity score matching for baseline SVA, cost of ASD surgery at 2 yr for F/SF was greater than that for NF ($81 347 vs $69 722). Cost per QALY was higher for F/SF at 2 yr than that for NF ($436 473 vs $430 437). At life expectancy, cost per QALY differences became comparable ($58 965 vs $58 149).Conclusion
Despite greater initial cost, F and SF patients show greater improvement. Cost per QALY for NF and F patients becomes similar at life expectancy.Item Open Access External Validation of the Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) Frailty Index (ASD-FI) in the Scoli-RISK-1 Patient Database.(Spine, 2018-10) Miller, Emily K; Lenke, Lawrence G; Neuman, Brian J; Sciubba, Daniel M; Kebaish, Khaled M; Smith, Justin S; Qiu, Yong; Dahl, Benny T; Pellisé, Ferran; Matsuyama, Yukihiro; Carreon, Leah Y; Fehlings, Michael G; Cheung, Kenneth M; Lewis, Stephen; Dekutoski, Mark B; Schwab, Frank J; Boachie-Adjei, Oheneba; Mehdian, Hossein; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ames, Christopher P; AOSpine Knowledge Forum Deformity, the International Spine Study GroupStudy design
Analysis of a prospective multicenter database.Objective
To assess the ability of the recently created Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) Frailty Index (ASD-FI) to predict odds of major complications and length of hospital stay for patients who had more severe preoperative deformity and underwent more invasive ASD surgery compared with patients in the database used to create the index.Summary of background data
Accurate preoperative estimates of risk are necessary given the high complication rates currently associated with ASD surgery.Methods
Patients were enrolled by participating institutions in Europe, Asia, and North America from 2009 to 2011. ASD-FI scores were used to classify 267 patients as not frail (NF) (<0.3), frail (0.3-0. 5), or severely frail (SF) (>0.5). Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for preoperative and surgical covariates such as operative time and blood loss, was performed to determine the relationship between ASD-FI category and incidence of major complications, overall incidence of complications, and length of hospital stay.Results
The mean ASD-FI score was 0.3 (range, 0-0.7). We categorized 105 patients as NF, 103 as frail, and 59 as SF. The adjusted odds of developing a major complication were higher for SF patients (odds ratio = 4.4; 95% CI 2.0, 9.9) compared with NF patients. After adjusting for covariates, length of hospital stay for SF patients increased by 19% (95% CI 1.4%, 39%) compared with NF patients. The odds of developing a major complication or having increased length of stay were similar between frail and NF patients.Conclusion
Greater patient frailty, as measured by the ASD-FI, is associated with a longer hospital stay and greater risk of major complications among patients who have severe preoperative deformity and undergo invasive surgical procedures.Level of evidence
2.Item Open Access Frailty and Health-Related Quality of Life Improvement Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.(World neurosurgery, 2018-04) Reid, Daniel BC; Daniels, Alan H; Ailon, Tamir; Miller, Emily; Sciubba, Daniel M; Smith, Justin S; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Schwab, Frank; Burton, Douglas; Hart, Robert A; Hostin, Richard; Line, Breton; Bess, Shay; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study GroupAlthough the Adult Spinal Deformity Frailty Index (ASD-FI) predicts major complications and prolonged hospital length of stay after adult spinal deformity surgery, the impact of frailty on postoperative changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unknown.Patients who underwent instrumented fusion of ≥4 levels for adult spinal deformity with minimum 2-year follow-up were stratified by Adult Spinal Deformity Frailty Index score into 3 groups: nonfrail, frail, and severely frail. Baseline and follow-up demographics, HRQoL measures, and radiographic parameters were analyzed. Primary outcome measures included proportion of patients who achieved substantial clinical benefit (SCB) in terms of Oswestry Disability Index, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary, and numeric back and leg pain scores.Inclusion criteria were met by 332 patients (135 nonfrail, 175 frail, 22 severely frail). Frail and severely frail patients were older and had more comorbidities, worse baseline HRQoL and pain scores, and worse radiographic deformity than nonfrail patients (P < 0.05). At 2-year follow-up, all outcome scores were worse in frail and severely frail patients compared with nonfrail patients. Frail patients improved more than nonfrail patients and were more likely to reach SCB for Oswestry Disability Index (43.7% vs. 29.3%; P = 0.025), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary (56.9% vs. 51.2%; P = 0.03), and leg pain (45.8% vs. 23.0%; P = 0.03) scores, but not back pain (57.5% vs. 63.4%; P = 0.045) score.Despite higher risk stratification and worse baseline HRQoL, frail patients were more likely to reach SCB for most HRQoL measures compared with nonfrail patients. Severely frail patients were the least likely to reach SCB for most HRQoL measures.Item Open Access Frailty in the End-Stage Lung Disease or Heart Failure Patient: Implications for the Perioperative Transplant Clinician.(Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia, 2019-05) Bottiger, Brandi A; Nicoara, Alina; Snyder, Laurie D; Wischmeyer, Paul E; Schroder, Jacob N; Patel, Chetan B; Daneshmand, Mani A; Sladen, Robert N; Ghadimi, KamrouzThe syndrome of frailty for patients undergoing heart or lung transplantation has been a recent focus for perioperative clinicians because of its association with postoperative complications and poor outcomes. Patients with end-stage cardiac or pulmonary failure may be under consideration for heart or lung transplantation along with bridging therapies such as ventricular assist device implantation or venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, respectively. Early identification of frail patients in an attempt to modify the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality has become an important area of study over the last decade. Many quantification tools and risk prediction models for frailty have been developed but have not been evaluated extensively or standardized in the cardiothoracic transplant candidate population. Heightened awareness of frailty, coupled with a better understanding of distinct cellular mechanisms and biomarkers apart from end-stage organ disease, may play an important role in potentially reversing frailty related to organ failure. Furthermore, the clinical management of these critically ill patients may be enhanced by waitlist and postoperative physical rehabilitation and nutritional optimization.Item Open Access From Hospital to Home: Impact of Transitional Care on Cost, Hospitalisation and Mortality.(Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 2019-10) Ang, Yan Hoon; Ginting, Mimaika Luluina; Wong, Chek Hooi; Tew, Chee Wee; Liu, Chang; Sivapragasam, Nirmali Ruth; Matchar, David BruceItem Open Access High prevalence of geriatric syndromes in older adults.(PloS one, 2020-01) Sanford, Angela M; Morley, John E; Berg-Weger, Marla; Lundy, Janice; Little, Milta O; Leonard, Kathleen; Malmstrom, Theodore KINTRODUCTION:The geriatric syndromes of frailty, sarcopenia, weight loss, and dementia are highly prevalent in elderly individuals across all care continuums. Despite their deleterious impact on quality of life, disability, and mortality in older adults, they are frequently under-recognized. At Saint Louis University, the Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA) was developed as a brief screening tool to identify these four geriatric syndromes. MATERIALS AND METHODS:From 2015-2019, the RGA, comprised of the FRAIL, SARC-F, Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), and Rapid Cognitive Screen (RCS) tools and a question on Advance Directives, was administered to 11,344 individuals ≥ 65 years of age across Missouri in community, office-based, hospital, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and nursing home care settings. Standard statistical methods were used to calculate the prevalence of frailty, sarcopenia, weight loss, and dementia across the sample. RESULTS:Among the 11,344 individuals screened by the RGA, 41.0% and 30.4% met the screening criteria for pre-frailty and frailty respectively, 42.9% met the screening criteria for sarcopenia, 29.3% were anorectic and at risk for weight loss, and 28.1% screened positive for dementia. The prevalence of frailty, risk for weight loss, sarcopenia, and dementia increased with age and decreased when hospitalized patients and those in the PACE program or nursing home were excluded. CONCLUSIONS:Using the RGA as a valid screening tool, the prevalence of one or more of the geriatric syndromes of frailty, sarcopenia, weight loss, and dementia in older adults across all care continuums is quite high. Management approaches exist for each of these syndromes that can improve outcomes. It is suggested that the brief RGA screening tool be administered to persons 65 and older yearly as part of the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.Item Open Access Highest Achievable Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Cervical Deformity Corrective Surgery by Frailty.(Neurosurgery, 2022-11) Passias, Peter G; Kummer, Nicholas; Williamson, Tyler K; Williamson, Tyler K; Moattari, Kevin; Lafage, Virginie; Lafage, Renaud; Kim, Han Jo; Daniels, Alan H; Gum, Jeffrey L; Diebo, Bassel G; Protopsaltis, Themistocles S; Mundis, Gregory M; Eastlack, Robert K; Soroceanu, Alexandra; Scheer, Justin K; Hamilton, D Kojo; Klineberg, Eric O; Line, Breton; Hart, Robert A; Burton, Douglas C; Mummaneni, Praveen; Chou, Dean; Park, Paul; Schwab, Frank J; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Bess, Shay; Ames, Christopher P; Smith, Justin S; International Spine Study GroupBackground
Frailty is influential in determining operative outcomes, including complications, in patients with cervical deformity (CD).Objective
To assess whether frailty status limits the highest achievable outcomes of patients with CD.Methods
Adult patients with CD with 2-year (2Y) data included. Frailty stratification: not frail (NF) <0.2, frail (F) 0.2 to 0.4, and severely frail (SF) >0.4. Analysis of covariance established estimated marginal means based on age, invasiveness, and baseline deformity, for improvement, deterioration, or maintenance in Neck Disability Index (NDI), Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA), and Numerical Rating Scale Neck Pain.Results
One hundred twenty-six patients with CD included 29 NF, 83 F, and 14 SF. The NF group had the highest rates of deterioration and lowest rates of improvement in cervical Sagittal Vertical Axis and horizontal gaze modifiers. Two-year improvements in NDI by frailty: NF: -11.2, F: -16.9, and SF: -14.6 ( P = .524). The top quartile of NF patients also had the lowest 1-year (1Y) NDI (7.0) compared with F (11.0) and SF (40.5). Between 1Y and 2Y, 7.9% of patients deteriorated in NDI, 71.1% maintained, and 21.1% improved. Between 1Y and 2Y, SF had the highest rate of improvement (42%), while NF had the highest rate of deterioration (18.5%).Conclusion
Although frail patients improved more often by 1Y, SF patients achieve most of their clinical improvement between 1 and 2Y. Frailty is associated with factors such as osteoporosis, poor alignment, neurological status, sarcopenia, and other medical comorbidities. Similarly, clinical outcomes can be affected by many factors (fusion status, number of pain generators within treated levels, integrity of soft tissues and bone, and deformity correction). Although accounting for such factors will ultimately determine whether frailty alone is an independent risk factor, these preliminary findings may suggest that frailty status affects the clinical outcomes and improvement after CD surgery.Item Open Access Improved Function With Enhanced Protein Intake per Meal: A Pilot Study of Weight Reduction in Frail, Obese Older Adults.(J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2016-10) Porter Starr, Kathryn N; Pieper, Carl F; Orenduff, Melissa C; McDonald, Shelley R; McClure, Luisa B; Zhou, Run; Payne, Martha E; Bales, Connie WBACKGROUND: Obesity is a significant cause of functional limitations in older adults; yet, concerns that weight reduction could diminish muscle along with fat mass have impeded progress toward an intervention. Meal-based enhancement of protein intake could protect function and/or lean mass but has not been studied during geriatric obesity reduction. METHODS: In this 6-month randomized controlled trial, 67 obese (body mass index ≥30kg/m(2)) older (≥60 years) adults with a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 4-10 were randomly assigned to a traditional (Control) weight loss regimen or one with higher protein intake (>30g) at each meal (Protein). All participants were prescribed a hypo-caloric diet, and weighed and provided dietary guidance weekly. Physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery) and lean mass (BOD POD), along with secondary measures, were assessed at 0, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: At the 6-month endpoint, there was significant (p < .001) weight loss in both the Control (-7.5±6.2kg) and Protein (-8.7±7.4kg) groups. Both groups also improved function but the increase in the Protein (+2.4±1.7 units; p < .001) was greater than in the Control (+0.9±1.7 units; p < .01) group (p = .02). CONCLUSION: Obese, functionally limited older adults undergoing a 6-month weight loss intervention with a meal-based enhancement of protein quantity and quality lost similar amounts of weight but had greater functional improvements relative to the Control group. If confirmed, this dietary approach could have important implications for improving the functional status of this vulnerable population (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01715753).Item Open Access Is frailty responsive to surgical correction of adult spinal deformity? An investigation of sagittal re-alignment and frailty component drivers of postoperative frailty status.(Spine deformity, 2022-07) Passias, Peter G; Segreto, Frank A; Moattari, Kevin A; Lafage, Renaud; Smith, Justin S; Line, Breton G; Eastlack, Robert K; Burton, Douglas C; Hart, Robert A; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ames, Christopher P; Lafage, Virginie; International Spine Study GroupPurpose
Frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. Recently, a novel frailty index for preoperative risk stratification in patients with adult spinal deformity was developed. Components of the ASD-FI utilize patient comorbidity, clinical symptoms, and patient-reported-outcome-measures (PROMS). Our purpose was to investigate components of the Adult Spinal Deformity Frailty Index (ASD-FI) responsive to surgery and drivers of overall frailty.Methods
Operative ASD patients ≥ 18 years, undergoing multilevel fusions, with complete baseline, 6 W, 1Y and 2Y ASD-FI scores. Descriptive analysis assessed demographics, radiographic parameters, and surgical details. Pearson bivariate correlations, independent and paired t tests assessed postoperative changes to ASD-FI components, total score, and radiographic parameters. Linear regression models determined the effect of successful surgery (achieving lowest level SRS-Schwab classification modifiers) on change in ASD-FI total scores.Results
409 6-week, 696 1-year, and 253 2-year operative ASD patients were included. 6-week and 1-year baseline frailty scores were 0.34, 2 years was 0.38. Following surgery, 6-week frailty was 0.36 (p = 0.033), 1 year was 0.25 (p < 0.001), and 2 years was 0.28 (p < 0.001). Of the ASD-FI variables, 17/40 improved at 6 weeks, 21/40 at 1 year, and 18/40 at 2 years. Successful surgery significantly predicted decreases in 1-year frailty scores (R = 0.27, p < 0.001), SRS-Schwab SVA modifier was the greatest predictor (Adjusted Beta: - 0.29, p < 0.001).Conclusions
Improvement in sagittal realignment and functional status correlated with improved postoperative frailty. Additional research and deformity sub-group analyses are needed to describe associations between specific functional activities that correlated with frailty improvement as well as evaluation of modifiable and non-modifiable indices.Level of evidence: 3
Item Open Access Modifiable Risk Factors for Dementia by Frailty: Application of Population Intervention Effects(2024) Gao, LingyuanBackgroundSeveral modifiable risk factors for dementia have been identified. Rising interests focus on how frailty captures heterogeneous treatment and prevention effects. This study aimed to examine the association between modifiable risk factors and all-cause dementia among middle-aged and older adults and compare population-level intervention effects across frailty status.
MethodsParticipants from UK Biobank without dementia and with available data on frailty and modifiable risk factors at baseline were included. Dementia was ascertained from inpatient records. Frailty was defined by a modified version of physical frailty phenotype and classified as non-frail, pre-frail and frail. Thirteen socioeconomic, life-style, environmental, and medical risk factors were included. We used Logistic regression to examine their association with 10-year dementia. Population intervention effects were also estimated by parametric G-computation.
ResultsOf 381, 419 eligible participants with a mean age of 56.9 years, 58.4%, 38.2%, and 3.4% were non-frail, pre-frail, and frail, respectively. Over a 10-year follow-up, 1,688 (0.76%), 1,949 (1.34%), and 378 (2.90%) dementia cases were identified among non-frail, pre-frail, and frail adults. The odds ratios for low education, physical inactivity, central obesity, hearing impairment, high NO2 exposure, and traumatic brain injury increased, but those for smoking, depression, hypertension, and diabetes decreased. Population intervention effects for single risk factors (excluding smoking and excessive alcohol use) increased with severer frailty status. For interventions achieving 100% coverage, the population intervention effect was 0.002, 0.007, and 0.022 in the non-frail, pre-frail, and frail populations, respectively. Even with intervention coverage of only 25% and 50%, the population intervention effect remained highest among the frail population.
ConclusionWe found that frailty modifies the associations between established risk factors and dementia among middle-aged and older adults. Dementia intervention effectiveness appears to be greatest among frail adults. Therefore, routine frailty evaluation should be adopted to identify those who will gain the most from personalized dementia prevention strategies.
Item Open Access Operative treatment outcomes for adult cervical deformity: a prospective multicenter assessment with mean 3-year follow-up.(Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2022-12) Elias, Elias; Bess, Shay; Line, Breton G; Lafage, Virginie; Lafage, Renaud; Klineberg, Eric; Kim, Han Jo; Passias, Peter; Nasser, Zeina; Gum, Jeffrey L; Kebaish, Khaled; Eastlack, Robert; Daniels, Alan H; Mundis, Gregory; Hostin, Richard; Protopsaltis, Themistocles S; Soroceanu, Alex; Hamilton, D Kojo; Kelly, Michael P; Gupta, Munish; Hart, Robert; Schwab, Frank J; Burton, Douglas; Ames, Christopher P; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Smith, Justin S; International Spine Study GroupObjective
Adult cervical deformity (ACD) has high complication rates due to surgical complexity and patient frailty. Very few studies have focused on longer-term outcomes of operative ACD treatment. The objective of this study was to assess minimum 2-year outcomes and complications of ACD surgery.Methods
A multicenter, prospective observational study was performed at 13 centers across the United States to evaluate surgical outcomes for ACD. Demographics, complications, radiographic parameters, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; Neck Disability Index, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association, EuroQol-5D [EQ-5D], and numeric rating scale [NRS] for neck and back pain) were evaluated, and analyses focused on patients with ≥ 2-year follow-up.Results
Of 169 patients with ACD who were eligible for the study, 102 (60.4%) had a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean 3.4 years, range 2-8.1 years). The mean age at surgery was 62 years (SD 11 years). Surgical approaches included anterior-only (22.8%), posterior-only (39.6%), and combined (37.6%). PROMs significantly improved from baseline to last follow-up, including Neck Disability Index (from 47.3 to 33.0) and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (from 12.0 to 12.8; for patients with baseline score ≤ 14), neck pain NRS (from 6.8 to 3.8), back pain NRS (from 5.5 to 4.8), EQ-5D score (from 0.74 to 0.78), and EQ-5D visual analog scale score (from 59.5 to 66.6) (all p ≤ 0.04). More than half of the patients (n = 58, 56.9%) had at least one complication, with the most common complications including dysphagia, distal junctional kyphosis, instrumentation failure, and cardiopulmonary events. The patients who did not achieve 2-year follow-up (n = 67) were similar to study patients based on baseline demographics, comorbidities, and PROMs. Over the course of follow-up, 23 of the total 169 enrolled patients were reported to have died. Notably, these represent all-cause mortalities during the course of follow-up.Conclusions
This multicenter, prospective analysis demonstrates that operative treatment for ACD provides significant improvement of health-related quality of life at a mean 3.4-year follow-up, despite high complication rates and a high rate of all-cause mortality that is reflective of the overall frailty of this patient population. To the authors' knowledge, this study represents the largest and most comprehensive prospective effort to date designed to assess the intermediate-term outcomes and complications of operative treatment for ACD.Item Open Access Predictors of serious, preventable, and costly medical complications in a population of adult spinal deformity patients.(The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society, 2021-09) Alas, Haddy; Passias, Peter G; Brown, Avery E; Pierce, Katherine E; Bortz, Cole; Bess, Shay; Lafage, Renaud; Lafage, Virginie; Ames, Christopher P; Burton, Douglas C; Hamilton, D Kojo; Kelly, Michael P; Hostin, Richard; Neuman, Brian J; Line, Breton G; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Smith, Justin S; Schwab, Frank J; Klineberg, Eric O; International Spine Study GroupBackground context
In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a list of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) with significant deleterious effects on both patients and providers. Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is complex and highly invasive, and as such may result in significant morbidity including these HACs.Purpose
Identify predictors for developing the most common HACs among adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients undergoing corrective surgery.Study design/setting
Retrospective analysis.Patient sample
One thousand one hundred and seventy-one ASD patients.Outcome measures
HACs, Health-Related Quality of Life scores(HRQLs), Reoperation, Integrated Health State (IHS) METHODS: ASD pts undergoing surgery (>18 years, scoliosis ≥20°, SVA ≥5 cm, PT ≥25° and/or TK >60°) with complete data at BL and up to 2 years post-op were included. Patients were stratified by presence of >1 HAC, defined as at least one superficial/deep SSI, UTI, DVT, or PE within a 30-day post-op window. Random forest analysis generated 5,000 Conditional Inference Trees to compute a variable importance table for top predictors of HACs. An area-under-the-curve (AUC) methodology compared normalized HRQL scores between groups to determine an IHS with 2-year follow-up.Results
Total of 1,171 pts (59.8 years, 76.2%F, 28.1kg/m2) underwent corrective ASD surgery, with 1,053 pts in the non-HAC group and 118 in the HAC group. Of these pts, 25.4% had UTI, 15.4% DVT, 19.2% superficial SSI, 20.8% deep SSI, and 19.2% PE. HAC pts were on average older (63.5 vs 59.3, p=.004) and more often frail (51.3 vs 39.7%, p=.021) than non-HAC pts. Postop LOS and reoperation were most associated with HAC groups: [1] LOS >7 days [2] reoperation. Patient-related predictors of HACs were [3] age >50 yerr, [4] frailty, and [13] BMI >31. Procedure-related predictors of HACs were [5] operative-time >405 minutes, [6] levels fused >9, EBL >1450 mL, and [11] decompression. BL radiographic predictors were [7] PT >20°, [9] PI-LL>6°, [10] TL Cobb angle >15°, [12] SVA C7-S1 >29 mm. No differences were observed between groups with regards to IHS ODI (0.73 vs 0.74, p=.863), SRS (1.3 vs1.3, p=.374), NRS Back (0.6 vs 0.6, p=.158). HAC had higher rates of reoperation than non-HAC (0.08 vs 0.01, p=.066), and any HAC within 30-days of index was a significant predictor of reoperation (OR: 2.448 [1.94-3.09], p<.001).Conclusions
In a population of ASD patients, HACs were associated with length of stay, reoperation, age, and frailty. Radiographic parameters such as pelvic tilt >20°, PI-LL >6°, & SVA >29 mm also increased odds of HACs, and should raise postoperative awareness for HAC development.