According to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Arthroplasty, the modified frailty index (mFI) may be an independent predictor of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complication (cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, septic shock, pulmonary embolism, postoperative dialysis, reintubation, and prolonged ventilator requirement) in patients undergoing total hip (THA) or total knee (TKA) arthroplasty. 

The researchers analyzed data on 14,583 THA and 25,223 TKA patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. They found that increase in mFI was associated with increased risk of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications, hospital-acquired conditions, any complications, and mortality. After adjusting for demographics, they found that mFI was the strongest independent predictor of Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications for both THA and TKA patients. Learn more...