Observational studyEuropean geriatric medicine2026
Standard-of-care vs expert-recommended discharge destinations for geriatric surgical inpatients: a prospective observational cohort study.
Observational study in European geriatric medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Standard-of-care vs. machine learning-recommended discharge destinations for geriatric surgical inpatients: algorithm development and internal validation.European geriatric medicine · 2026Article
- Can geriatric expertise be codified? Why geriatric judgment extends beyond algorithms.European geriatric medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeDischarge planning is important to ensure optimal postoperative outcomes for older surgical inpatients. As part of the Supporting SURgery with GEriatric co-management and AI (SURGE-Ahead) project, this study investigates how congruence between standard of care discharge decisions and geriatric expert recommendations affects functional outcomes in older surgical inpatients.
methodsA prospective observational cohort study was conducted across three surgical departments at Ulm University Medical Center (Trauma, Visceral, and Urology). Patients aged 70 years or older with an Identification of Seniors at Risk score ≥ 2 were enrolled. The congruence between the standard of care discharge decisions (actual discharge destination) and recommendations made by expert geriatricians (unknown to clinicians) was determined across four discharge options: home, acute geriatric care unit, post-acute rehabilitation facility, or nursing home. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to examine how the match between recommended and actual discharge destinations related to functional outcomes and readmission rates post-discharge.
resultsAmong the 169 participants (mean age 80.5 ± 6.3 years, 58.6% female), a discrepancy of 27% was observed between the standard of care and expert recommendations. Patients with discharge decisions incongruent to geriatric expert recommendations showed higher frailty scores, more dependence in activities of daily living, and reduced mobility pre-operatively. Mismatch between expert recommendations and standard of care was associated with a decline in Barthel Index and Charité Mobility Index scores, and higher 3-month readmission rates.
conclusionOptimizing discharge destinations may prevent functional decline and reduce readmissions. Closing the gap between standard of care discharge decisions and geriatric expert recommendations could improve functional outcomes for older surgical inpatients.
trial registrationGerman clinical trials registry (DRKS00030684), registered on 21st November 2022.
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