RESULTS Severity of frailty syndrome significantly correlated with post-surgical mortality rates and with many although not all post-surgical complications .
These relationships emerge in different type of surgical procedures and patients ' features .
BACKGROUND Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the clinical presentation of identifiable physical alterations and decreased physiological reserve .
The assessment of frailty syndrome has been recently related with post-surgical outcomes and overall mortality in older individuals .
Too frail for surgery? Initial results of a large multidisciplinary prospective study examining preoperative variables predictive of poor surgical outcomes.
BACKGROUND The decision as to whether a patient can tolerate surgery is often subjective and can misjudge a patient 's true physiologic state . The concept of frailty is an important assessment tool in the geriatric medical population , but has only recently gained attention in surgical patients . Frailty potentially represents a measureable phenotype , which , if quantified with a st and ardized protocol , could reliably estimate the risk of adverse surgical outcomes . STUDY DESIGN Frailty was prospect ively evaluated in the clinic setting in patients consenting for major general , oncologic , and urologic procedures . Evaluation included an  established assessment tool ( Hopkins Frailty Score ) , self-administered question naires , clinical assessment of performance status , and biochemical measures .  Primary outcome was 30-day postoperative complications . RESULTS There were 189 patients evaluated : 117 from urology , 52 from surgical oncology , and 20 from general surgery clinics . Mean age was 62 years , 59.8 % were male , and 71.4 % were Caucasian . Patients who scored intermediately frail or frail on the Hopkins Frailty Score were more likely to experience postoperative complications ( odds ratio [ OR ] 2.07 , 95 % CI 1.05 to 4.08 , p = 0.036 ) . Of all other preoperative assessment tools , only higher hemoglobin ( p = 0.033 ) had a significant association and was protective for 30-day complications . CONCLUSIONS The aggregate score of patients as " intermediately frail or frail " on the Hopkins Frailty Score was predictive of a patient experiencing a postoperative complication . This preoperative assessment tool may prove beneficial when weighing the risks and benefits of surgery , allowing objective data to guide surgical decision-making and patient counseling
RESULTS Severity of frailty syndrome significantly correlated with post-surgical mortality rates and with many although not all post-surgical complications .
These relationships emerge in different type of surgical procedures and patients ' features .
BACKGROUND Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the clinical presentation of identifiable physical alterations and decreased physiological reserve .
The assessment of frailty syndrome has been recently related with post-surgical outcomes and overall mortality in older individuals .