Association of Preoperative Frailty and Postoperative Outcomes in Older Adults Undergoing Major Cardiac Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frailty affects nearly 1 in 5 older adults requiring major cardiac procedures. Frailty was significantly associated with adverse postoperative outcomes, including delirium, infections, renal complications, extended length of stay, and mortality. As frailty is potentially modifiable, targeted strategies-such as prehabilitation, nutritional optimization, and enhanced perioperative monitoring-may improve outcomes. Incorporating routine frailty screening into standard preoperative practice allows for earlier identification of high-risk patients, efficient resource allocation, and perioperative care planning.