What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients (n=23607). Intervention: Surgical procedures. Primary outcome: Pooled incidence of postoperative complications (95% CI 27.99-52.15, p=<0.001).

What does this research mean for the field?

Approximately 40% of elderly surgical patients experience postoperative complications, with hypoalbuminemia, ASA-PS III, emergency surgery, renal failure, and frailty serving as key independent predictors. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To synthesize recent evidence on the pooled incidence and independent predictors of postoperative complications in surgical patients aged 60 years and older.

September 25, 2026European journal of medical researchOpen Access

Incidence and predictors of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

The pooled incidence of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients was 40.07%, with ASA-PS III, emergency surgery, frailty, hypoalbuminemia, and renal failure as strong predictors.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Approximately 40% of elderly surgical patients experience postoperative complications, with hypoalbuminemia, ASA-PS III, emergency surgery, renal failure, and frailty serving as key independent predictors. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To synthesize recent evidence on the pooled incidence and independent predictors of postoperative complications in surgical patients aged 60 years and older.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Elderly surgical patients face a ~40% postoperative complication rate, linked to frailty and emergency surgery.

95% CI 27.99-52.15
P<0.001
n=23,607

Why the study?

What are the incidence and predictors of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients?

Population

Elderly surgical patients aged 60 years and older from 29 observational studies

Design

Meta-analysis

Authors

HWHabtie Bantider WubetDebre Tabor University NGNegesse Zurbachew GobezieDebre Tabor University GDGetachew Mekete DeressDebre Tabor University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

High postoperative complication rates in elderly patients support targeted preoperative frailty and comorbidity assessment; observational meta-analysis leaves intervention effects open.

Key Points

To synthesize recent evidence on the pooled incidence and independent predictors of postoperative complications in surgical patients aged 60 years and older.
Systematic review and meta-analysis registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251117160) following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
Searched Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed/MEDLINE for English-language observational studies evaluating patients aged ≥60 years, evaluated via Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal.
Across 29 studies, the pooled incidence of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients was 40.07% (95% CI 27.99–52.15%; p < 0.001).
The strongest independent predictors of complications were hypoalbuminemia (OR 4.71; 95% CI 2.30–7.12), ASA-PS III classification (OR 3.78; 95% CI 2.79–4.76), and emergency surgery (OR 3.30; 95% CI 2.27–4.33).
Renal failure (OR 2.65; 95% CI 2.22–3.65) and frailty (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.89–2.94) also independently increased complication risk.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=23,607)

Structured PICO

What are the incidence and predictors of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients?

Population

23,607 elderly surgical patients aged 60 years and older from 29 observational studies, assessed for the incidence and predictors of postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery.

Exposure

Surgical procedures

Outcome

Incidence and predictors of postoperative complicationssafety

Main Result

p-value: p=<0.001

Elderly surgical patients face a high rate of postoperative complications (40.07%), which are strongly predicted by factors such as ASA-PS III, emergency surgery, frailty, hypoalbuminemia, and renal failure.

Limitations

Significant heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 100%)
Variations in surgical specialties, healthcare systems, age thresholds, and definitions of postoperative complications
Inconsistent characterization and determination of postoperative complications across studies

Cite This Study

Wubet et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients (n=23,607). Surgical procedures was evaluated on Pooled incidence of postoperative complications (95% CI 27.99-52.15, p=<0.001). The pooled incidence of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients was 40.07%, with ASA-PS III, emergency surgery, frailty, hypoalbuminemia, and renal failure as strong predictors.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ab60edd406bf401c14677bd https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-026-05240-9

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Implication

High postoperative complication rates in elderly patients support targeted preoperative frailty and comorbidity assessment; observational meta-analysis leaves intervention effects open.

Incidence and predictors of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Incidence and predictors of postoperative complications in elderly surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider