Determining the Factors Affecting the Development of Perioperative Complications According to Aging Stages

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to examine perioperative complication risks in elderly patients stratified by age.Method:Elderly patients (youngest-old, ages 65 to 74 years; middle-old, 75 to 84 years; and oldest-old, ≥85 years) and controls (20-30 years) who underwent surgical intervention under general anesthesia were included in this prospective observational study.Results:Two-hundred-sixty patients were included. Different age subgroups showed a different course in terms of perioperative complications. For any combined end-point of any perioperative complication, having a body mass index>28 [odds ratio (OR): 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.6; p=0.012] and being on multi-pharmacy regimen at baseline (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5; p=0.029) emerged as significant independent predictors. In reference to controls, each elderly age group emerged as a significant independent predictor: youngest-olds (OR: 4.9; 95% CI: 2.2-10.8; p<0.001); middle-olds (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1-5.4; p=0.025); oldest-olds, (OR: 5.6; 95% CI: 2.5-12.6; p<0.001).Conclusion:Elderly patients appear to have higher risk for intraoperative and postoperative complications when compared to the young patients, and each age group appears to have increased risk for different type of complications.

Keywords

• complications
• elderly
• middle-old
• surgery
• oldest-old
• youngest-old