Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Comparison of Preoperative Frailty Assessment Tools

This study is investigating different ways to assess frailty, a condition where older individuals might be a bit weaker and less resilient. This is important because being frail before surgery can increase the risk of complications and make recovery harder. There are many tools available to check for frailty, but we don't know which one works best for people having operations. This research aims to compare several different frailty assessment tools, such as the Risk Analysis Index and the Clinical Frailty Scale. By doing this, the study hopes to find the most accurate and useful tool to identify older patients who might be at higher risk before their surgery. This will help doctors plan the best care and support for these patients.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Enrolment target

584

Start

15 Apr 2025

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2027

Frailty Frailty in Older Adults Frailty/Sarcopenia

What is this study about?

When you're older and facing surgery, doctors want to make sure you're as strong and healthy as possible to help you recover well. Sometimes, older people can be a bit 'frail', which means they might be a bit weaker, tire more easily, or take longer to bounce back from illness or operations. Being frail doesn't mean you can't have surgery, but it does mean doctors might need to give you extra support to help you get better afterwards.

Doctors currently have different ways to check for frailty, often using questionnaires or simple tests. However, it's not clear which of these methods is the most effective at predicting who might have problems after surgery. This research project is designed to compare several of these different assessment tools. The goal is to see which one is best at identifying older patients who might be at a higher risk of complications after their operation.

By finding the best assessment tool, doctors can more easily identify patients who might need extra care or different plans before their surgery. This could lead to better outcomes, fewer complications, and a smoother recovery for older adults undergoing operations. It's all about making sure patients get the right support tailored to their individual needs.

Key takeaways

The study aims to find the best way to check for frailty in older people before surgery.
Frailty can affect how well you recover from an operation.
You would have extra assessments during your pre-operation visit.
No new treatments or medicines are involved in this study.
Your participation could help improve future care for older patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for volunteers who are 70 years old or older. You would need to be scheduled for an operation that is expected to last about two hours or more.

However, there are a few reasons why you might not be able to join. If you have difficulty understanding or speaking German, you wouldn't be able to take part because some of the tests involve language. Also, if you have a known learning disability or a serious mental health condition that would make it hard to do these tests, you wouldn't be eligible.

Essentially, the study needs participants who are able to understand and respond to questions during the assessment process.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 70 years old or older?
Are you scheduled for surgery that will last two hours or more?
Can you understand and speak German well enough for tests?
Do you not have a learning disability or serious mental illness that would prevent testing?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study doesn't involve any new treatments or medicines. If you take part, you would have some extra assessments done during your usual pre-operation visit, when you see the anaesthetist. These assessments will involve using different questionnaires and simple tests that doctors use to check for frailty. This would likely add some extra time to your pre-operation appointment. There is no specific follow-up mentioned beyond the initial assessment. The total duration of your participation would be limited to the time taken for these assessments during your pre-operation visit.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your health, but it could help doctors understand how to better care for older people having surgery in the future. There are very few risks involved, as you wouldn't be taking any new medicines or having extra procedures. You might find the assessments a bit tiring or take extra time during your pre-operation visit. Remember, you can choose to stop taking part in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care.

Locations (1)

University Medical Centre Hamburg
Verified postcode
Hamburg, Germany

Common questions

What is 'frailty' in this study?

Frailty means someone is a bit weaker and less able to recover easily. It's common in older age and can affect how well you do after surgery.

Will I get any special treatment if I join?

No, this study is about comparing assessment tools, not providing new treatments. Your medical care will be planned by your doctors as usual.

How long will the assessments take?

The assessments will add some extra time to your usual pre-operation visit. The exact duration isn't specified but it will be during that visit.

Do I need to speak German to participate?

Yes, for this particular study, you do need to have good German language skills because some of the tests involve understanding and responding in German.

Can I change my mind after joining?

Absolutely. You can decide to leave the study at any point, and it won't affect the care you receive from your doctors.

How to find out more

Dr. Cynthia Olotu, MD

c.olotu@uke.de 0049 40 7410 52415 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.