P.148 Perceptions of frailty in spinal metastatic disease: international survey of the AO spine community

Abstract

Background: Frailty is increasingly recognized for an association with adverse events, mortality, and hospital discharge disposition among surgical patients. The purpose of this study was to describe how spinal surgeons conceptualize, define, and assess frailty in the context of spinal metastatic disease (SMD). Methods: We conducted an international, cross-sectional, 33-question survey of the AO Spine community. The survey was developed using a modified Delphi technique and was designed to elucidate preoperative surrogate markers of frailty in the context of SMD. Responses were ranked using weighted averages. Consensus was defined as ≥ 70% agreement among respondents. Results: Results were analyzed for 312 respondents (86% completion rate). Study participants represented 71 countries. Most respondents informally assess frailty in patients with SMD by forming a general perception based on clinical condition and patient history. Consensus was attained regarding the association between 14 clinical variables and frailty. Severe comorbidities, systemic disease burden, and poor performance status were most associated with frailty; severe comorbidities included high-risk cardio-pulmonary disease, renal failure, liver failure, and malnutrition. Conclusions: Surgeons recognized frailty is important but commonly evaluate it based on general clinical impression rather than using existing frailty tools. We identified preoperative surrogate markers of frailty perceived as most relevant in this population.