title: Predictive factors of clinical outcome in older surgical patients.
abstract: We aimed to identify predictors of mortality and length of stay-in hospital in older surgical patients. In 294 patients (mean age 74.1+/-6.4 years, 153 men), consecutively admitted to four surgery units of a university-teaching hospital to receive elective surgery (ES, 56.5%) or urgent surgery (US, 43.5%), the following variables were evaluated: demographics, clinical history (hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), cerebrovascular accidents, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), active neoplasm, cognitive impairment, immobilization, pressure ulcers), physiopathology (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, APACHE, II), cognition/function (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, SPMSQ; activity of daily living, ADL; instrumental activity of daily living, IADL), comorbidity (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, CIRS, 1 and 2) and anesthesiology (American Score Anesthesiologist, ASA). The vital status of the patient at 1 month after discharge and the duration of hospitalization were recorded. One-month mortality rate was 6.1%. Low hemoglobin and body mass index (BMI) values, increasing ASA score, and, only in US patients, ADL dependence and higher CIRS 1 score, were independently predictive of mortality. Low hemoglobin levels and, only in ES patients, higher CIRS 1 score were associated with prolonged hospitalization. Prognostic indicators specific to older people have limited value in mortality models in elderly surgical patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatrics, Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista-Molinette, C.so Bramante 88, Turin 10126, Italy. mario.bo@unito.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cacello
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghiggia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corsinovi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosco
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins