title: Comprehensive geriatric assessment can predict complications in elderly patients after elective surgery for colorectal cancer: a prospective observational cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between the outcomes of a pre-operative comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and the risk of severe post-operative complications in elderly patients electively operated for colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients ≥ 70 years electively operated for all stages of colorectal cancer were prospectively examined. A pre-operative CGA was performed, and patients were categorized as fit, intermediate, or frail. The main outcome measure was severe complications within 30 days of surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients (12%) were categorized as fit, 81 (46%) as intermediate, and 76 (43%) as frail. Eighty-three patients experienced severe complications, including three deaths; 7/21 (33%) of fit patients, 29/81 (36%) of intermediate patients and 47/76 (62%) of frail patients (p=0.002). Increasing age and ASA classification were not associated with complications in this series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CGA can identify frail patients who have a significantly increased risk of severe complications after elective surgery for colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital - Ullevål, 0407 Oslo, Norway. sirikristjansson@gmail.com
authors.forename: Siri R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kristjansson
authors.forename: Arild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nesbakken
authors.forename: Marit S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jordhøy
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skovlund
authors.forename: Riccardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Audisio
authors.forename: Hans-Olaf
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakka
authors.forename: Torgeir B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Wyller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome