Frailty in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas: experience from a high-volume tumor center

Gliomas are increasingly diagnosed in an aging population, with treatment outcomes influenced by factors like tumor genetics and patient frailty. This study focused on IDH-mutant gliomas and assessed how frailty affects 30-day readmission and overall survival (OS). We aimed to address a gap in understanding the impact of frailty on this specific glioma subtype.

136 patients with an IDH-mutant glioma between 2007 and 2021 were identified at our institution. High frailty was classified by scores ≥ 1 on the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5) and ≥ 3 on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patient and tumor characteristics including age, sex, race, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), Body Mass Index (BMI), tumor type and location, type of operation, and therapy course were recorded. Outcomes measured included 30-day readmission and overall survival (OS). Analysis was conducted utilizing logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier curves.

Of the 136 patients, 52 (38%) had high frailty: 18 with CCI ≥ 3, 34 with mFI-5 ≥ 1. High frailty correlated with increased BMI (CCI: 30.2, mFI-5: 30.1 kg/m2), more neurological deficits (CCI: 61%, mFI-5: 56%), and older age at surgery (CCI: 63, mFI-5: 48 years). Hospital readmission within 30 days occurred in 8 (5.9%) patients. Logistic regression indicated no significant difference in 30-day readmission rates (CCI: p = 0.30, mFI-5: p = 0.62) or median OS between high and low frailty groups. However, patients treated at our institution with newly diagnosed tumors with high mFI-5 had a 6.79 times higher adjusted death hazard than those with low mFI-5 (p = .049).

Our analysis revealed that CCI and mFI-5 were not significantly associated with 30-day nor OS. However, in patients with non-recurrent tumors, there was a significant association of mFI-5 with OS. Further study of frailty with larger cohorts is warranted to enhance prognostication of outcome after neurosurgical treatment.