Frailty indices predict mortality, complications and functional improvements in supratentorial meningioma patients over 80 years of age.

Purpose To assess whether the Modified 5 (mFI-5) and 11 (mFI-11) Factor Frailty Indices associate with postoperative mortality, complications, and functional benefit in supratentorial meningioma patients aged over 80 years. Methods Baseline characteristics were collected from eight centers. Based on the patients' preoperative status and comorbidities, frailty was assessed by the mFI-5 and mFI-11. The collected scores were categorized as "robust (mFI=0)", "pre-frail (mFI=1)", "frail (mFI=2)", and "significantly frail (mFI≥3)". Outcome was assessed by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS); functional benefit was defined as improved KPS score. Additionally, we evaluated the patients' functional independence (KPS≥70) after surgery. Results The study population consisted of 262 patients (median age 83 years) with a median preoperative KPS of 70 (range 20 to 100). The 90-day and 1-year mortality were 9.0% and 13.2%; we recorded surgery-associated complications in 111 (42.4%) patients. At last follow-up within the postoperative first year, 101 (38.5%) patients showed an improved KPS, and 183 (69.8%) either gained or maintained functional independence. "Severely frail" patients were at an increased risk of death at 90 days (OR 16.3 (CI95% 1.7-158.7)) and one year (OR 11.7 (CI95% 1.9-71.7)); nine (42.9%) of severely frail patients died within the first year after surgery. The "severely frail" cohort had increased odds of suffering from surgery-associated complications (OR 3.9 (CI 95%) 1.3-11.3)), but also had a high chance for postoperative functional improvements by KPS≥20 (OR 6.6 (CI95% 1.2-36.2)). Conclusion The mFI-5 and mFI-11 associate with postoperative mortality, complications, and functional benefit. Even though "severely frail" patients had the highest risk morbidity and mortality, they had the highest chance for functional improvement.