Prevalence of frailty syndrome in the Colombian population aged over 65 years scheduled for noncardiac elective surgery

ABSTRACT Background: Frailty syndrome (FS) has gained increasing importance due to its association with adverse perioperative outcomes. It is relevant to ascertain the prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities associated with this syndrome. Objectives: The objective was to determine the prevalence of FS in the Colombian population over 65 years of age scheduled for elective noncardiac surgery. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out in two high-complexity hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia. Frailty was defined by applying two scales: Fried’s frailty phenotype and SHARE-FI. Prevalence was calculated both globally and stratified by sex, based on the number of subjects classified as frail according to each scale, in relation to the total number of subjects evaluated. Results: A total of 359 patients were included. A prevalence of FS was determined to be 12.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.2%–16.4%) using Fried’s frailty phenotype and 16.7% (95% CI 12.7%–20.7%) using the SHARE-FI scale. The average age of patients with FS was 77.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 6.31), compared to 74.5 years (SD 6.22) in the control group ( P = 0.003). A higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction (17.4% vs. 8.3%; P = 0.049), chronic heart failure (19.6% vs. 6.7%; P = 0.003), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (32.6% vs. 9.6%; P < 0.001) was observed in patients with FS compared to the control group. Conclusion: A prevalence of frailty was identified in patients aged 65 years and older scheduled for elective surgery in Colombia, ranging between 12.8% and 16.7%. Acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and COPD were more frequently related in patients with frailty.