Evaluating prevalence and trajectory of functional disability in older surgical patients: An observational cohort study.

Study Objectives: To (1) estimate the prevalence and trajectory of functional disability exceeding patient-acceptable and clinically significant levels in older surgical patients preoperatively and at 30, 90, and 180 days postoperatively, (2) identify risk factors associated with postoperative functional disability, and (3) compare adverse clinical outcomes between participants with and without functional disability.

Design: Multicenter prospective study.

Setting: Remote preoperative and postoperative assessments.

Patients: 307 older patients aged ≥65 years undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Measurements: Functional disability was assessed using the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 on an online survey, with a score ≥ 16 % exceeding a patient-acceptable symptom state and ≥ 35 % indicating significant, or at least moderate, severity.

Main Results: We found that 133 (43 %) patients exhibited preoperative functional disability exceeding a patient-acceptable level, with 42 (14 %) experiencing clinically significant, or at least moderate, functional disability. The Functional Disability group showed greater improvement in function than the No-disability group. Specifically, over 60 % of participants in the Functional Disability group showed significant improvement at 90 and 180 days postoperatively, with 40 % being disability-free. However, 12 % of the Functional Disability group and 9 % of the No-disability group experienced a clinically important worsening in functional disability at 180 days postoperatively. Preoperative functional disability and depression were associated with nearly 6- and 4-fold higher odds of functional disability at 180 days, respectively.

Conclusions: Patients with preoperative functional disability experienced greater postoperative improvement in functional disability than the No-disability group. Preoperative evaluation of functional disability informs perioperative care and recovery for patients and clinicians.