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Changes in frailty after parathyroid and thyroid surgery.

McCoy KL, Hall DE, Recker A, Carty SE, Yip L. Changes in frailty after parathyroid and thyroid surgery. Surgery. 2022 Mar 1; 171(3):718-724.

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Frailty tools assess symptoms and comorbidities that may coincide with those of primary hyperparathyroidism. To test the hypothesis that parathyroidectomy improves frailty, we conducted a prospective cohort comparison of frailty after parathyroid or thyroid surgery. METHODS: The Risk Analysis Index measuring frailty was prospectively administered to patients undergoing curative parathyroid exploration or total thyroidectomy. Risk Analysis Index results at the preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up visits were assessed longitudinally. RESULTS: Compared to total thyroidectomy patients (n  = 142), parathyroid exploration patients (n  = 187) were older (P  = .001), more often male (P  = .05) and had longer surgical follow-up (P < .001). Mean preoperative Risk Analysis Index scores were higher in parathyroid exploration patients (24 ± 9 vs total thyroidectomy 17 ± 8, P < .001). Parathyroid exploration patients demonstrated a significant decrease in Risk Analysis Index score from preoperative to last follow-up (P < .01); total thyroidectomy patients did not (P  = .44). Parathyroid exploration patients were also less likely to exhibit a 20% increase in Risk Analysis Index over time, suggesting that parathyroidectomy slowed progression of frailty (2% vs 19%, P  = .003). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study of frailty using a validated assessment tool, Risk Analysis Index scores decreased after parathyroid exploration surgery. When compared to total thyroidectomy patients, parathyroid exploration patients were also less likely to suffer a clinically meaningful = 20% increase in Risk Analysis Index scores after surgery, suggesting that parathyroid exploration patients better maintained baseline health at final follow-up.




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