Hospital volume of frail patients linked to outcomes

Editor's Note

In hospitals that care for a lower volume of frail patients, frail surgical patients have increased postoperative mortality and failure to rescue, finds this study.

Of 63,381 frail patients analyzed, 30-day mortality in the lowest volume quintile was 1.1%, compared to 0.9% in the highest.

Adjusted analysis found a significant association between frailty volume and improved survival.

Concentrating perioperative care in centers that frequently treat high-risk frail patients could improve outcomes, the researchers conclude.

A Retrospective Population-based Cohort Study