Correlation between physical status measures and frailty score in patients undergoing pancreatic resection

This study aimed to assess the correlation between validated measures of physical status in a prehabilitation regimen with an established frailty score and analyze changes in these measures after completion of a directed prehabilitation program among patients undergoing elective pancreatic resection.

Adult patients undergoing pancreatic resection from 2019-2021 were enrolled in a pilot prehabilitation program. Three validated measures of physical status were used: the 6-minute walk test, grip strength, and chair-stand test. The prehabilitation program comprised 7,500 steps, 30 grip strength exercises, and 100 chair-stand exercises daily. Patients' frailty score was calculated using the Modified Johns Hopkins Frailty score. Changes in physical status measures after prehabilitation and postoperative outcomes were compared.

Thirty-two patients with a median age of 69.0 years (interquartile range = 59.5-76.3 years) were included. Patients' median duration of participation was 21.5 days (interquartile range = 16-29 days). There was a negative correlation between increasing frailty score and baseline the 6-minute walk test (R² = 0.17) and chair-stand test (R² = 0.18). Patients' mean the 6-minute walk test decreased at the end of the prehabilitation program, while grip strength and chair-stand test were unchanged. When stratified by low or intermediate and high frailty scores, the differences in the 6-minute walk test and chair-stand test were unchanged. Hospital duration of stay, complications, and 90-day readmission rates were not different between frailty groups (P > .05).

Correlation of physical status measures with frailty score suggests only one of these measures is sufficient to estimate patients' preoperative physical status. A longer, more comprehensive prehabilitation program or an expedited operation are likely the best strategies to improve patient outcomes.