Frailty before surgery and memory problems after it in older adults in Georgia

The number of elderly people in the global population is growing, presenting an increasing challenge. Technological advances in medicine have made it possible to perform complex surgeries on geriatric patients, improving the viability of this age group. However, postoperative neurocognitive disorders represent the most common postoperative complications in this demographic, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, a reduced quality of life, and a heightened risk of dementia.

In high-income countries, studies have shown that preoperative frailty is associated with a cascade of postoperative disorders, including cognitive decline, delirium, dementia, and mortality. These complications negatively impact the community as a whole, healthcare staff and services, and the daily lives of those affected and their families. Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are linked to longer hospital stays, increased economic costs, reduced ability to work, and adverse consequences for family members and caregivers.

Frailty is a syndrome characterized by decreased reserve and resistance to stressors, resulting from cumulative declines in multiple physiological systems over time. This leaves individuals less capable of mounting a satisfactory response to stressful events. Frailty is most prevalent in the aging population, with its prevalence increasing exponentially with age.

This study will be the first to investigate preoperative frailty and its association with postoperative cognitive disorders in Georgia. Currently, there is limited information regarding the geriatric population in Georgia. The study will explore the prevalence of preoperative frailty and its impact on postoperative outcomes, including depression, dementia, cognitive dysfunction, delirium, and mortality at 30 days, three months, and one year following anesthesia and surgery.

This pioneering research will provide valuable insights into these disorders in low- and middle-income countries. It will fill a significant gap in the international literature by contributing essential knowledge that is currently lacking in this field.