Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the correlation between preoperative Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores and the incidence of 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery. METHODS: A cohort of 680 patients aged 65 years and above, scheduled for major abdominal surgery between April 2023 and November 2024 at our institution, was initially considered. Of these, 645 were enrolled and assessed using the SPPB on the day prior to surgery to evaluate their level of frailty. We collected demographic data and monitored the rates of PPCs within 30 days post-surgery. Participants were dichotomized into two groups based on their SPPB scores: a low-score group (scores below 10) and a high-score group (scores of 10 or above). Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to explore the independent association between preoperative SPPB scores and the occurrence of PPCs. RESULTS: The study included 440 patients in the high SPPB group (scores ≥ 10) and 205 in the low SPPB group (scores < 10). A significantly lower incidence of PPCs was observed in the high SPPB group (P = 0.002). Further, multivariate analysis substantiated that a higher preoperative SPPB score was independently predictive of a lower risk of PPCs (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.94, P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: The SPPB serves as a valuable clinical instrument for assessing preoperative functional status. Elevated preoperative SPPB scores correlate with a decreased risk of PPCs in elderly patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgeries under general anesthesia.