Age is not a risk factor for complications after surgery in older patients, review finds

Age is not a prognostic risk factor for complications after elective surgery in older patients, whereas frailty, cognitive impairment, and smoking are, a review has found.1

“Older adults are a diverse group of patients whose risk of postoperative complications is not solely defined by their age, comorbidities, or the type of surgical procedure they receive,” said the lead author, Jennifer Watt, from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada.

She added, “This study highlights how common postoperative complications are …