Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42067894›Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of surgical oncology2026

The predictive value of multidimensional frailty instruments for postoperative adverse outcomes in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yue Chen, Shulin Song, Ziyan Wang, Yinning Guo, Zhongmin Fu, Ting Xu, Yi Chen, Zhichao Jiang, Lingyu Ding, Qin Xu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yue ChenSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Shulin SongSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Ziyan WangSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yinning GuoSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zhongmin FuSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Ting XuSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yi ChenSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zhichao JiangThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China.
Lingyu DingSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. lingyuding@163.com.
Qin XuSchool of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. qinxu@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 72404140
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo systematically review the predictive performance of Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI), and Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS) for adverse outcomes including postoperative complications, unplanned readmission, 30-day mortality, prolonged length of stay among cancer patients. MATERIALS AND

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across English and Chinese databases until October 2, 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Predictive performance was evaluated by pooling sensitivity, specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic curves.

resultsThere were 21 studies (4,435 individuals) that were included for the meta-analysis. TFI demonstrated pooled sensitivities of 0.64 (for postoperative complications), 0.77 (for unplanned readmission), and 0.50 (for prolonged hospital stay), with corresponding specificities of 0.67, 0.54, and 0.64 respectively. The areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.70, 0.71, and 0.60. GFI demonstrated sensitivities of 0.59, 0.65, and 0.55 for complications, 30-day mortality, and functional decline, with specificity of 0.73, 0.63, and 0.77, and the AUC of 0.71, 0.68, and 0.74. EFS had sensitivity 0.39, specificity 0.87, and AUC 0.57 for complications. Subgroup analysis revealed that TFI had reasonable predictive value for adverse outcomes with sensitivity 0.61-0.81 and specificity 0.60-0.68 among most gynecological and gastrointestinal cancer subgroups. In most subgroups, GFI showed higher specificity (0.64-0.84) relative to sensitivity (0.43-0.68).

conclusionTFI and GFI demonstrated moderate predictive validity for adverse outcomes, whereas EFS exhibited poor predictive performance. These findings highlight the necessity for caution interpretation of frailty assessments in clinical practice and underscore the importance of further validating these tools within diverse oncological contexts.

Indexed as

FrailtyNeoplasmsPostoperative ComplicationsHumansLength of StayPatient ReadmissionPredictive Value of TestsPrognosis30-day mortalityCancer Patientsfunctional declineMultidimensional FrailtyPostoperative ComplicationsPredictive PerformanceProlonged length of stayReadmission

Identifiers

PMID42067894
PMCPMC13281656

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.