Validation of the Hospital Frailty Risk Score in older surgical patients: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for standardized and cost-effective identification of frailty risk. The objective was to validate the Hospital Frailty Risk Score which utilizes International Classification Diagnoses in a cohort of older surgical patients, assess the score as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes and compare discrimination properties of the frailty risk score with other risk stratification scores. METHODS: Data were analysed from all patients ≥65 years undergoing primary surgical procedures from 2006-2018. Patients were categorized based on the frailty risk score. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 180-day risk of readmission. RESULTS: Of 16 793 patients evaluated, 7480 (45%), 7605 (45%) and 1708 (10%) had a low, intermediate and high risk of frailty. There was a higher incidence of 30-day mortality for individuals with intermediate (2.9%) and high (8.3%) compared with low (1.4%) risk of frailty (P < .001 for both comparisons). Similarly, the hazard of readmission within the first 180 days was higher for intermediate (HR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.16-1.34) and high (HR 1.84; 95% CI: 1.66-2.03) compared with low (HR 1.00, P < .001 for both comparisons) risk of frailty. The hazard of long-term mortality was higher for intermediate (HR 1.70; 95% CI: 1.61-1.80) and high (HR 4.16; 95% CI: 3.84-4.49) compared with low (HR 1.00, P < .001 for both comparisons) risk of frailty. Finally, long length of primary hospitalization occurred for 9.3%, 15.0% and 27.3% of individuals with low, intermediate and high frailty risk (P < .001 for all comparisons). A model including age and ASA classification had the best discrimination for 30-day mortality (AUC 0.862; 95% CI: 0.847-0.877). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the Hospital Frailty Risk Score might be used to screen older surgical patients for risk of frailty. While only slightly improving prediction of 30-day mortality using the ASA classification, the Hospital Frailty Risk Score can be used to independently classify older patients for the risk of important outcomes using pre-existing readily available electronic data.

[Inappropriate use of blood components in critical care?]. / Má bæta notkun blódhluta á gjörgæsludeildum? Samanburdur vid klínískar leidbeiningar.

INTRODUCTION: Due to potential risk of blood transfusions, clinical guidelines emphasize restrictive use of blood components. However, numerous studies indicate that adherence to guidelines is often less than optimal. Furthermore, information regarding use of blood transfusion in intensive care units (ICUs) and compliance to clinical guidelines is lacking. We studied the use of blood components in two adult ICUs in Iceland and the compliance to clinical guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All adult patients that received blood components in both ICUs at Landspitali during 6 months in 2010 were studied. Hematology and coagulation parameters as well as indications for administration were compared with hospital guidelines. RESULTS: 202 patients (34%) received blood components, half of them after surgery. 30% received red-blood cells (RBCs), 18% fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and 9% platelets. The mean hemoglobin value before RBC transfusion was 87 g/L, but in one third of cases it exceeded 100 g/L. FFP was transfused at a normal prothrombin time in 9% of cases. No coagulation parameters were available before transfusion of 5% of FFP. Mean platelet count before transfusion of platelets was 82 x109/L and in 34% of cases it exceeded 100 x109/L. CONCLUSION: One third of patients received blood components during their ICU stay, most commonly RBCs. At least 6% of RBCs, 14% of FFPs and 33% of platelets were not transfused according to recent guidelines at Landspítali. Although our results are in line with findings of other studies it appears that the use of blood components in Icelandic ICUs can be improved. Key words: Blood transfusion, intensive care unit, red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, transfusion clinical guidelines.

[The outcomes of coronary artery bypass and aortic valve replacement in elderly patients]. / Árangur kransædahjáveituadgerda og ósædarlokuskipta hjá öldrudum.

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of open heart surgery in an increasing population of elderly patients in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients (n=876) that underwent coronary artery bypass (CABG) or aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis in Iceland 2002-2006. Complication rates, operative mortality and long-term survival were compared between patients older (n=221, 25%) and younger (n=655, 75%) than 75 years. Long-term survival of the older group was compared to an age and sex matched reference population. RESULTS: Older patients had a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (57% vs. 37%, p<0.001), stroke (5% vs. 1%, p=0.009) and operative mortality (9% vs. 2%, p<0.001) following CABG. Length of ICU stay was similar but total length of stay was one day longer in the older cohort. Following AVR, older patients had a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (90% vs. 71%, p=0.006), ARDS (19% vs. 7%, p=0.04), myocardial infarction (21% vs. 8%, p=0.05) and operative mortality (11% vs. 2%, p=0.04). The ICU stay was a day longer and the total length of stay was about four days longer in the older cohort. A total of 75% of the older patients were alive five years after CABG, compared to 74% of the reference population (p=0.87). Similar numbers for AVR were 65% for the patients compared to 74% in the reference population (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: The rate of complications, operative mortality and length of hospital stay is higher in patients older than 75 years compared to younger patients. Survival of the older group of patients indicates good long-term results after open heart surgery for this patient cohort.

[Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in Iceland 2002-2006: Long term complications and survival]. / Lokuskipti vegna ósædarlokuthrengsla á Islandi 2002-2006 - langtímafylgikvillar og lifun.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term complications and survival following aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Included were 156 patients (average age 71.7 yrs, 64.7% males) that underwent AVR for AS at Landspitali between 2002 and 2006. A mechanical prosthesis was used in 29 patients (18.6%) and a bioprosthesis in 127. Long-term complications and operation-related admissions were registered from hospital and outpatient records until April 1, 2010. Overall survival was estimated and compared with the Icelandic population of the same age and gender. RESULTS: The mean preop. EuroSCORE(st) was 6.9%, the max. transvalvular pressure gradient 74.1 mmHg and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (57.2%). At six months following AVR the maximal pressure gradient was 19.8 mmHg (range; 2.5-38). Echocardiography results were not available for 23.6% of the patients 6 months postoperatively. In the follow-up period one in four patients was admitted due to valve-related problems. Re-admission rate was 6.0/100 patient-years (pt-y); most commonly due to cardiac failure (1.7/100 pt-y), emboli (1.6/100 pt-y), hemorrhage (1.6/100 pt-y), endocarditis (0.7/100 pt-y) and myocardial infarction (0.4/100 pt-y). Survival at 1 and 5 year was 89.7% and 78.2%, respectively, making survival comparable to the estimated survival of Icelanders of the same age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of long-term complications following AVR in Iceland is in line with other studies. The same applies to long-term survival, which was similar to that of the Icelandic population of the same age and gender. Key words: Aortic valve replacement, aortic stenosis, heart surgery, results, long-term complication, survival.

[Aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in Iceland 2002-2006: Indications and short term complications]. / Lokuskipti vegna óædarlokuprengsla á islandi 2002-2006: ábendingar og snemmkomnir fylgikvillar.

OBJECTIVE: Information on surgical outcome of aortic valve replacement (AVR) has not been available in Iceland. We therefore studied the indications, short-term complications and operative mortality in Icelandic patients that underwent AVR with aortic stenosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study including all patients that underwent AVR for aortic stenosis at Landspitali between 2002 and 2006, a total of 156 patients (average age 71.7 years, 64.7% males). Short term complications and operative mortality (≤ 30 days) were registered and risk factors analysed with multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The most common symptoms before AVR were dyspnea (86.9%) and angina pectoris (52.6%). Preop. max aortic valve pressure gradient was on average 74 mmHg, the left ventricular ejection fraction 57.2% and EuroSCORE (st) 6.9%. The average operating time was 282 min and concomitant CABG was performed in 55% of the patients and mitral valve surgery in nine. A bioprothesis was implanted in 127 of the patients (81.4%), of which 102 were stentless valves, and a mechanical valve in 29 (18.6%) cases. The mean prosthesis size was 25.6 mm (range 21-29). Atrial fibrillation (78.0%) and acute renal injury (36.0%) were the most common complications and 20 patients (13.0%) developed multiple-organ failure. Twenty-six patients (17.0%) needed reoperation due to bleeding. Median hospital stay was 13 days and operative mortality was 6.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of short term complications following AVR was relatively high, including reoperations for bleeding and atrial fibrillation. Operative mortality is twice that of CABG, which is in line with other studies.

[Reoperation for bleeding following open heart surgery in Iceland]. / Enduradgerdir vegna blaedinga eftir opnar hjartaskurdadgerdir á Islandi.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative bleeding is a common and potentially fatal complication following open heart surgery, studies reporting a reoperation rate for bleeding in the range of 2-6%. Surgical outcome after such reoperations has not been previously studied in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study were included all adults that underwent open heart surgery in Iceland during a 6 year period, between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005. RESULTS: There were 103 reoperations (mean age 68 years, 76% males), but throughout the same 6 year period a total of 1295 open heart procedures were performed, the reoperation-rate being 8%. One third of all patients were on aspirin and 8% on clopidogrel less than 5 days before surgery. The bleeding in the primary operation averaged 1523 ml (range 300-4780) and 3942 ml for the first 24 hours postoperatively. Half of the patients were reoperated on within 2 h and 97% within 24 hours. The patients received on average 16.5 units of packed cells, 15.6 units of plasma and 2.3 sets of thrombocytes. The most common postoperative complication was atrial fibrillation (58.3%), pleural effusion that needed chest tube drainage (24.3%), myocardial infarction (23.3%) and sternal wound infection (11.7%). Median length of stay was 14 days (range 6-85), including 2 days (range 1-38) in ICU. Operative mortality was 15.5% and 1 year crude survival 79.6%. CONCLUSION: Reoperation-rate for bleeding was 8%, which is higher compared to other studies. Bleeding is a serious complication following open heart surgery with high morbidity and significant mortality.