RecruitingObservational

A Descriptive and Comparative Analysis of Frailty in Rural Versus Urban Cancer Patients Undergoing Major Surgical Oncologic Procedures

NCT ID: NCT05694338Sponsor: The Guthrie ClinicLast updated: 2026-04-29

Summary

This research is for patients who have gastrointestinal cancer and have a planned major surgery. The purpose of this research is to identify cancer patients who may be at risk for frailty. Frailty is common in older adults and may include symptoms of weight loss, weakness, fatigue, low activity, slow walking and other illnesses. Frailty may increase the risk of problems after major surgery. The study will involve a survey, a blood sample, and a review of medical records.

Detailed description

The goals of the study are to: * Describe the rate of frailty in surgical cancer patients * Assess if frailty correlates with problems (adverse outcomes) after major surgery Participants taking part will be asked to complete a survey to assess frailty before surgery. The frailty survey is referred to as the Clinical Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C). Participants will have about 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of blood drawn before surgery. Blood tests will include complete blood count (CBC), vitamin A, creatinine, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), DHEA, albumin, and prealbumin.

Arms & interventions

OtherFrailty survey
Frailty survey using the Clinical Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C).

Outcome measures

Primary

Percent of patients considered frail assessed by Clinical Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C) Scores of 21 or higher
Assess Clinical Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C) Scores in rural patients referred for major abdominal surgeries. Survey values will be added to yield a final RAI-C score between 0 and 81. Percent of patients considered frail will be defined as Clinical Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C) Scores of 21 or higher
Time frame: pre-operative

Secondary

Adverse outcomes after major surgery
Time frame: 30 days post-operative

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years old or older * histologically proven gastrointestinal malignancy * referral for elective major surgical procedures at including operations for upper and lower gastrointestinal malignancies and hepato-pancreato-biliary * referral for neoadjuvant treatment followed by any of the above major surgical procedures Exclusion Criteria: * under 18 years * pregnant women

Study locations (2)

Guthrie Medical Group

East Corning, New York, 14830

Not Yet Recruiting

Rebekah Macfie, MD · Contact

Rebekah.Macfie@guthrie.org

Robert Packer Hospital

Sayre, Pennsylvania, 18840

Recruiting

Rebekah Macfie, MD · Contact

Rebekah.Macfie@guthrie.org