Pre-operative frailty is predictive of adverse post-operative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: An increasing number of elderly patients are presenting for elective surgery. Pre-operative risk assessment in this population is inexact due to the complex interplay between age, comorbidity and functional status. Frailty assessment may provide a surrogate measure of a patient's physiological reserve and aid operative decision-making. The aim of this study is to determine the association between pre-operative frailty, as assessed using the Edmonton Frail Scale, and post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: A prospective analysis of 86 patients over the age of 65 undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery at a tertiary centre between October 2017 and October 2018 was performed. Frailty assessment was conducted pre-operatively using the Edmonton Frail Scale. Primary outcomes included length of stay and post-operative complication rates. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the influence of frailty on post-operative outcomes including mortality, prolonged hospital admission, complication rates and quality of life.

Results: Of 86 patients, 12 (14.0%) were identified as frail. Frailty was associated with a significantly increased median length of stay (20 days versus 6 days, incidence rate ratio 2.83, P < 0.01) and a significantly increased risk of major post-operative complications (50.0% versus 6.7%, odds ratio 13.8, P < 0.01). Frailty was not associated with a significant reduction in quality of life scores at 30 and 90 days post-operatively.

Conclusion: Frailty is associated with adverse post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery. Frailty assessment is an important component of pre-operative risk assessment and may identify targets for pre-operative optimisation.