Functional impairment prior to elective surgery is associated with more short-term complications and a higher mortality after one year in elderly patients with gastrointestinal gynaecological and genito-urinary cancer

Purpose: Multi-morbidity as well as pre-existing functional deficits regarding mobility and physical activity, and cognition increases the vulnerability of elderly patients resulting in higher short- and long term complications after surgery. Comprehensive geriatric assessments were developed to evaluate functional status, co-morbidities, mental status, and nutritive state activities of onco-geriatric patients and to predict the individualized risk of cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of functional tests prior to surgery in elderly patients with cancer.