Association of Frailty Score and Surgical Site Infection After Open Lower Extremity Revascularization

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Infectious Disease
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication following lower extremity vascular procedures.
• Frailty assessment is crucial for predicting postoperative outcomes in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between the Vascular Quality Initiative-Risk Analysis Index (VQI-RAI) frailty score and SSI risk.
• To identify specific frailty components associated with SSI after open lower extremity revascularization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 1130 patients undergoing open lower extremity revascularization (2007-2019).
• VQI-RAI scores were calculated and compared between patients with and without SSI.
• Patients were categorized as frail (VQI-RAI ≥35) or not frail (VQI-RAI <35) to compare SSI outcomes.

Main Results:

• The overall SSI rate was 8.1%.
• No significant association was found between VQI-RAI scores and SSI.
• Body mass index, an individual component of VQI-RAI, was significantly associated with SSI (P < .0001).

Conclusions:

• The VQI-RAI frailty score is not a significant predictor of SSI in this patient cohort.
• Obesity, indicated by body mass index, presents a substantial risk factor for SSI.
• Frailty, as measured by VQI-RAI, may not independently increase SSI risk in vascular surgery patients.