Older adults who develop new health problems like dehydration, confusion, or poor nutrition after major surgery are much more likely to face serious outcomes.
A recent study shows these new conditions—called geriatric syndromes—can lead to more complications, fewer days spent at home, and a much higher risk of dying within a year.
The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Researchers looked at data from Medicare patients aged 66 and older who had one of five major operations between 2016 and 2021.
These included heart bypass surgery, lung removal, aneurysm repair, pancreas surgery, and colon surgery. Importantly, the study only included patients who did not have any of these geriatric syndromes before surgery.
The researchers found that about 11% of the patients developed at least one new geriatric syndrome while they were in the hospital. These syndromes included sudden confusion (delirium), dehydration, malnutrition, falls, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Patients who developed one of these issues were much less likely to go straight home from the hospital. On average, they spent 16.5 fewer days at home in the 90 days after their surgery compared to patients who did not develop these syndromes.
Dr. Timothy M. Pawlik from The Ohio State University, the lead author, explained that these syndromes can act like an early warning signal that a patient is more vulnerable. He said it’s important not to ignore these problems or write them off as just part of getting older. They show that patients need extra care and attention, both in the hospital and after they go home.
The study’s findings are serious. People who developed a geriatric syndrome were 132% more likely to die within one year. If they had two or more syndromes, the risk jumped to 272%. Even people who didn’t have any major surgical complications still faced a 54% higher risk of death if they developed one of these syndromes.
The most common problem was dehydration, which happened in about two-thirds of affected patients. This was followed by confusion and poor nutrition.
The study also identified who is most at risk. Older patients, people with other serious health problems, and those who had emergency surgeries were more likely to develop a geriatric syndrome. On the other hand, people who had less invasive (minimally invasive) surgery had a 49% lower risk of developing one of these conditions.
The researchers say the study highlights the need for better care plans that focus on older adults. One example is the Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program from the American College of Surgeons.
This program helps hospitals create a care plan tailored to older patients. It includes steps to prevent confusion, assess patient needs, and support recovery at home.
Dr. Pawlik said this study proves why programs like GSV are important. By focusing on the unique needs of older adults, doctors can do more to prevent these problems and help people return to their normal lives after surgery.
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