Summary
This prospective cohort study of 15,171 patients aged 60 years or older undergoing cardiac surgery examined whether gait speed—a simple frailty measure—could improve prediction of operative risk. Slower gait speed was independently associated with increased 30-day mortality even after adjusting for established surgical risk models, with those in the slowest tertile (<0.83 m/s) having 3.16 times higher mortality odds than the fastest tertile (>1.00 m/s). The findings suggest gait speed could be a useful adjunct to existing risk prediction tools in preoperative assessment of older cardiac surgery patients, although its additive predictive value was modest.
UK applicability
These findings are applicable to UK cardiac surgery practice, as they derive from standardised surgical procedures and risk assessment conducted across multiple centres. However, adoption would require integration of the 5-metre gait speed test into routine preoperative assessment protocols in UK cardiac centres, which would necessitate training, standardisation, and evaluation of implementation feasibility.
Key measures
5-metre gait speed (metres per second); 30-day operative mortality; composite outcome of mortality or major morbidity; odds ratios by gait speed tertile; C statistic and integrated discrimination improvement
Outcomes reported
The study measured 30-day all-cause operative mortality and a composite outcome of mortality or major morbidity during index hospitalisation in older adults undergoing cardiac surgery. Gait speed was evaluated as an independent predictor of these outcomes.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.