Correlation of Preoperative Geriatrics 8 Score and Postoperative Complications in Older Adult Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Abstract
Objective: To study the correlation between score on the Geriatric 8 (G8) preoperative assessment scale and major
postoperative complications in older adult patients with head and neck cancer.
Material and Methods: A prospective study of older adult patients with head and neck cancer who underwent surgery during
December 2020 to June 2022 was conducted after ethical approval was received from Rajavithi Hospital committee. G8 scores
were collected before surgery and their correlation with complication outcomes analyzed.
Results: Of 104 patients included in this study, mean age was 68.84 ± 6.99 years. Patients with G8 score ≤ 14 (73 cases, 70.2%)
were classified as the frail group and 30 patients (28.8%) had Clavien-Dindo complications at grade III–IV, among which 26
(86.7%) were in the frail group and 4 (13.3%) were in the non-frail group, which was a significant difference (p = 0.019).
Conclusion: G8 score was correlated with major postoperative complication, and has potential for application as preoperative
assessment tool, in older adult patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer.