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World J Gastrointest Surg. Sep 27, 2026; 18(9): 120394
Published online Sep 27, 2026. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.120394
Effects of comprehensive geriatric assessment-guided nursing interventions on postoperative complications/recovery in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery
Zhe-Xin Dong, Shuang Xie, Jing Xu, General Ward of Ward 17, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China
ORCID number: Jing Xu (0009-0004-3971-610X).
Author contributions: Dong ZX designed and wrote the manuscript; Xie S performed the research and collected and analyzed the data; Xu J prepared all tables and figures and reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript, were involved in critically revising it for important intellectual content, and approved the final version for publication.
AI contribution statement: No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.
Supported by Zhejiang Provincial Medical and Health Science and Technology Plan Project, No. 2025KY532.
Institutional review board statement: The retrospective research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Hospital (Approval No. ZJHIRB-2025-166K).
Informed consent statement: The Institutional Ethics Committee waived the requirement for individual informed consent because the analysis was performed exclusively on de-identified retrospective data extracted from the hospital’s electronic medical record system and involved no direct contact with patients or additional risks.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: De-identified individual participant data underlying the analyses, together with the statistical code and the data dictionary, are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request and following review by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Because the Ethics Committee waived the requirement for individual informed consent on the basis of de-identification, any onward data sharing will be limited to de-identified data and to bona fide academic research use.
Corresponding author: Jing Xu, Associate Chief Nurse, General Ward of Ward 17, Zhejiang Hospital, No. 12 Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310013, Zhejiang Province, China. 13735815416@163.com
Received: April 14, 2026
Revised: June 18, 2026
Accepted: August 10, 2026
Published online: September 27, 2026
Processing time: 153 Days and 23.9 Hours

Abstract
BACKGROUND

Elderly individuals who undergo gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery generally experience more postoperative complications than healthier, younger individuals do because of chronic illnesses, malnutrition, reduced functional capacity, and cognitive impairment. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) can identify treatable risk factors; however, few studies have investigated nurse-led CGA applications in elderly surgical populations.

AIM

To examine how CGA-guided nursing interventions affect postoperative complications and recovery in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included data from 78 patients aged ≥ 60 years who underwent gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery at Zhejiang Hospital (Zhejiang Province, China) between April 2025 and December 2025. Patients admitted concurrently during this period were allocated to two groups according to whether they had received CGA-guided nursing: CGA-guided (n = 40) or conventional control (n = 38) groups. CGA covered nutrition, activities of daily living, comorbidities, and cognition. Primary outcomes included complication rate and length of hospital stay (LOS).

RESULTS

The CGA group experienced fewer complications than the control group did (27.5% vs 55.3%; χ2 = 6.24, P = 0.013), including a shorter LOS (16.2 ± 4.2 days vs 20.8 ± 4.6 days; t = 4.58, P < 0.001). CGA-guided care was independently associated with a lower risk for complications (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35, 95% confidence interval: 0.14-0.87; P = 0.024) and shorter LOS (adjusted β = -3.68 days, 95% confidence interval: -5.72 to -1.64; P = 0.001) after adjustment for multiple variables.

CONCLUSION

CGA-guided nursing care reduces postoperative complications and LOS in older surgical patients. Incorporating a systematic evaluation of elderly patients into perioperative nursing protocols is effective.

Key Words: Geriatric assessment; Elderly; Gastrointestinal surgery; Hepatobiliary surgery; Postoperative complications; Nursing intervention

Core Tip: Comprehensive geriatric assistance-guided stratified nursing intervention reduced postoperative complications and shortened the length of hospital stay in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgeries. The effects remained significant after adjustment for other covariates. Hospitals should consider implementing the systematic integration of perioperative nursing for elderly individuals undergoing surgery.



INTRODUCTION

The global ageing population is transforming the landscape of surgical care. Contemporary surgical-population data indicate that adults aged ≥ 65 years now undergo approximately 35%-40% of all major operations performed in high-income health systems, a proportion that continues to rise with population ageing[1,2]. Among elderly patients, those who require abdominal surgery for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, or benign hepatobiliary tumors experience more complications due to multiple diseases and poor physical function[3].

Several reasons may explain the vulnerability observed among elderly surgical patients. First, more than 65% of those aged > 65 years have multimorbidity[4], thus increasing the risk of surgical-site infection or cardiopulmonary complications, which can delay wound healing. Second, the prevalence of malnutrition among older hospitalized surgical patients is 30%-60%[5]. Third, functional impairment is associated with a longer length of hospital stay (LOS) and discharge to an institution in multiple surgical populations, as well as with increased mortality across patient populations[6].

Cognitive dysfunction increases perioperative complexity. Even subclinical cognitive impairment elevates the risk of postoperative delirium, which is reported in 15%-35% of older patients after major gastrointestinal surgery in recent multicenter cohorts[7,8]. Postoperative delirium prolongs the LOS, increases healthcare costs, accelerates functional decline, and increases short-term and long-term mortality. This cluster of deficits creates a frailty syndrome that cannot be adequately understood using routine organ-based preoperative work-up[9].

Traditionally, perioperative nursing has followed standardized protocols designed for otherwise healthy adults without adjusting for the specific vulnerabilities of older patients[10]. Individuals with preserved function and minimal comorbidities require fundamentally different nursing care than those with nutritional risks, functional dependence, and cognitive vulnerabilities do. Failure to acknowledge this heterogeneity may help explain the persistently high complication rates reported in elderly surgical populations despite advances in surgical technique[11].

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) has evolved from a concept of geriatric medicine to a systematic, multidimensional evaluation of the overall needs of elderly individuals[12]. Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that CGA-based interventions decrease mortality and institutionalization and improve functional recovery[13]. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported that CGA can reduce complications and shorten the LOS in surgical patients[14,15]. However, most research has focused on assessment rather than the systematic delivery of targeted interventions[16]; as such, the application of nurse-led CGA-guided care remains underdeveloped[17].

The premise of CGA-guided nursing intervention is the systematic identification and modification of reversible risk factors. For nutritional risk, nurses can deliver structured, preoperative oral nutritional supplementation and protocolized, early postoperative enteral nutrition[18]. For functional impairment, mobilization may begin within 24 hours after surgery as part of an early mobilization bundle[19]. Multicomponent non-pharmacological bundles, such as sleep hygiene, reorientation, sensory aids, validated pain assessment, and benzodiazepine avoidance, can reduce postoperative delirium by approximately 40%[20]. However, direct evidence supporting CGA-guided nursing in patients undergoing gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery remains limited, with most published studies focusing on hip-fracture cohorts[21]. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate whether CGA-guided stratified nursing intervention reduces postoperative complications and the LOS in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study design and setting

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Geriatrics of Zhejiang Hospital (Zhejiang Province, China), a class 3 comprehensive hospital that admits seriously ill elderly patients with multisystem pathologies. The CGA-guided stratified nursing pathway was implemented in our department as a routine clinical quality-improvement initiative in April 2025 in accordance with standard local quality-improvement governance for perioperative care; it was not initiated as a research project. The present study involved a retrospective analysis of routinely collected medical-record data covering admissions from April 2025 through December 2025. The retrospective research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Zhejiang Hospital (Approval No. ZJHIRB-2025-166K) before any research data were extracted. The Institutional Ethics Committee waived the requirement for individual informed consent because the analysis was performed exclusively on de-identified retrospective data extracted from the hospital’s electronic medical record system and involved no direct contact with patients or additional risks.

Study population

Eligible patients included elderly adults who underwent gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery during the study period. Inclusion criteria: Age ≥ 60 years at the time of surgery; surgery for gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, or benign hepatobiliary tumor; elective admission; and complete medical records. Exclusion criteria: Emergency surgery; advanced metastatic malignancy; incomplete medical records; or severe preexisting illness precluding any nursing-modifiable risk factor. After applying these criteria, 78 patients were included in the study. Patients allocated to control and observation groups were drawn concurrently from April 2025 through December 2025 in the same surgical ward by the same surgical and nursing teams; allocation reflected whether CGA-guided nursing was documented in the medical record for that admission, which depended on availability of the CGA-trained nursing team and patient/family acceptance rather than the calendar period. Therefore, the study design is a concurrent retrospective cohort and not a before/after comparison. The surgical teams, surgical and anesthesia protocols, enhanced recovery after surgery elements, and discharge criteria were identical between groups during the study period.

CGA protocol and intervention

The CGA protocol comprised four domains: Nutrition, scored using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool[22]; functional status, scored using the Barthel Index[23]; comorbidity burden, calculated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)[24]; and cognition, scored using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire[25]. All four scores were obtained by trained nursing staff within 24 hours of admission.

Patients in the observation group received stratified nursing interventions according to the CGA results. The actionable core elements of each stratified intervention bundle were as follows.

Nutritional risk (NRS-2002 ≥ 3): Preoperative oral nutritional supplement 400 mL/day providing 600 kcal and ≥ 24 g protein for at least 5 days before surgery; nasogastric/nasojejunal enteral feeding initiated within 24 hours after surgery, beginning at 20 mL/hour and titrated to tolerance; target protein intake 1.2-1.5 g/kg/day; weekly weight, prealbumin, and grip-strength monitoring; dietitian review when oral nutritional supplement adherence fell below 75%.

Functional impairment (Barthel Index < 80): Structured out-of-bed mobilization within 24 hours after surgery (sit → stand → ambulate 5 m → progressive ambulation) for at least 30 minute/day under nursing supervision; daily Morse fall-risk reassessment; bedside resistance-band exercises three times daily; clear documentation of mobilization milestones in the nursing care record.

High comorbidity burden (CCI ≥ 3): Twice-daily vital signs and SpO2 monitoring; daily infection screening using a standardized checklist (wound, urinary, respiratory, and line); pharmacist-led medication reconciliation within 24 hours of admission and again at discharge; explicit Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions/Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment review of potentially inappropriate medications; expedited consultation pathway to internal medicine for any new abnormal vital-sign trend.

Cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24): Environmental adjustment (clock, calendar, family photograph at bedside, and hearing aids/glasses kept within reach); sleep-hygiene bundle (lights off from 22:00-06:00, ear-plugs and eye-mask offered, and clustered overnight care); validated postoperative pain assessment with the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia scale; reorientation by nursing staff every 4 hours while awake; benzodiazepine avoidance; family-led reorientation during visiting hours.

Patients in the control group received conventional perioperative nursing care during the same period; surgical, anesthetic, and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols were identical in both groups. The operator, frequency, and monitoring metrics for each element of the bundle are listed in Supplementary Table 1.

Risk stratification score

Each at-risk domain contributed one point to a 0-4 total risk score (NRS-2002 ≥ 3, Barthel Index < 80, CCI ≥ 3, and MMSE < 24). Patients were grouped as low risk (0-1), moderate risk (2), or high risk (3-4).

Outcome measures

The primary outcomes were postoperative complications and LOS. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification; grade ≥ II was the primary complication endpoint[26]. LOS was defined as the number of calendar days from surgery to discharge. Secondary outcomes were postoperative infection, postoperative delirium, 30-day hospital readmission, and intensive care unit transfer.

Statistical analysis

Continuous data are expressed as mean ± SD and count data as n (%). Comparison of means between independent samples was performed using the independent-samples t-test, and those between counts using the χ2d test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of postoperative complications, which were reported as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Multivariate linear regression was performed for the LOS. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to assess logistic-regression fit, and R2 reported for linear regression. Multicollinearity was evaluated using the variance inflation factor. All statistical tests were two-tailed, and statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, United States).

RESULTS
Baseline characteristics

Data from the 78 patients were divided into two groups: Control (n = 38) and observation (n = 40) groups. Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics of the patients are summarized in Table 1. The mean age of the cohort was 71.1 ± 6.0 years. No significant between-group differences were observed in age (control 71.8 ± 6.2 years vs observation 70.5 ± 5.8 years; t = 0.96, P = 0.342), sex distribution (male 65.8% vs female 60.0%; χ2 = 0.28, P = 0.594), or any CGA-domain score (all P > 0.05). The age distribution of the participants is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Figure 1 Age distribution by study group. Both groups had similar age distributions (control: 71.8 ± 6.2 years; comprehensive geriatric assessment: 70.5 ± 5.8 years; t = 0.96, P = 0.342). CGA: Comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study population (concurrent retrospective cohort, April 2025 to December 2025), mean ± SD/n (%).
Variable
Control (n = 38)
Observation (n = 40)
P value
Age (years)71.8 ± 6.270.5 ± 5.80.342
Male25 (65.8)24 (60.0)0.594
NRS-2002 score2.8 ± 1.72.6 ± 1.50.573
Barthel Index72.5 ± 14.874.2 ± 15.10.613
CCI score2.4 ± 1.42.5 ± 1.30.738
MMSE score24.1 ± 3.824.5 ± 3.60.627
Surgery type0.996
    Gastric cancer12 (31.6)13 (32.5)
    Colorectal cancer15 (39.5)16 (40.0)
    Hepatocellular carcinoma7 (18.4)7 (17.5)
    Benign hepatobiliary4 (10.5)4 (10.0)
Primary outcomes

The primary outcomes are reported in Tables 2 and 3 (Figure 2). The CGA group experienced significantly fewer postoperative complications than the control group did (27.5% vs 55.3%; χ2 = 6.24, P = 0.013), representing an absolute risk reduction of 27.8% points. The LOS was also significantly shorter in the CGA group than in the control group (16.2 ± 4.2 days vs 20.8 ± 4.6 days; t = 4.58, P < 0.001), corresponding to a mean LOS reduction of 4.6 days.

Figure 2
Figure 2 Primary outcomes. A: Postoperative complication rate (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II), comprehensive geriatric assessment group 27.5% vs control 55.3% (χ2 = 6.24, P = 0.013); B: Hospital length of stay, comprehensive geriatric assessment group 16.2 ± 4.2 days vs control 20.8 ± 4.6 days (t = 4.58, P < 0.001). Data in Figure 2B are shown as box plots (box, interquartile range; whiskers, range; horizontal rule, median), with the group mean ± SD annotated. CGA: Comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Table 2 Primary and secondary outcomes by study group (univariate analysis), mean ± SD/n (%).
Outcome
Control (n = 38)
Observation (n = 40)
P value
Complication rate (Clavien-Dindo ≥ II)21 (55.3)11 (27.5)0.013a
Length of stay, days20.8 ± 4.616.2 ± 4.2< 0.001b
Postoperative infection12 (31.6)10 (25.0)0.519
Postoperative delirium8 (21.1)5 (12.5)0.310
30-day readmission7 (18.4)2 (5.0)0.076
ICU transfer7 (18.4)4 (10.0)0.290
Table 3 Complication distribution by Clavien-Dindo grade, n (%).
CD grade
Control (n = 38)
Observation (n = 40)
Total
No complication17 (44.7)29 (72.5)46
Grade II14 (36.8)4 (10.0)18
Grade IIIa4 (10.5)4 (10.0)8
Grade IIIb2 (5.3)2 (5.0)4
Grade IV1 (2.6)1 (2.5)2
Grade V (death)0 (0)0 (0)0
Total ≥ grade II21 (55.3)11 (27.5)32
Secondary outcomes

The secondary outcomes are summarized in Tables 2 and 3 (Figure 3A). The infection rate was similar between groups (CGA 25.0% vs control 31.6%; χ2 = 0.42, P = 0.519). The absolute postoperative delirium rate was 12.5% in the CGA group vs 21.1% in the control group (χ2 = 1.03, P = 0.310), and the respective 30-day readmission rate 5.0% vs 18.4% (χ2 = 3.15, P = 0.076); these between-group differences did not reach the conventional threshold for statistical significance. The intensive care unit transfer rate was 10.0% in the CGA group vs 18.4% in the control group (χ2 = 1.12, P = 0.290). Complication severity according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system is shown in Figure 3B.

Figure 3
Figure 3 Secondary outcomes and complication severity. A: Secondary outcomes comparison (infection 31.6% vs 25.0%; delirium 21.1% vs 12.5%; 30-day readmission 18.4% vs 5.0%; intensive care unit transfer 18.4% vs 10.0%); B: Complication distribution by Clavien-Dindo grade (control patients had more grade II complications, 14 patient’s vs 4 patients). CGA: Comprehensive geriatric assessment; ICU: Intensive care unit.
Multivariate regression analysis

Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis of postoperative complications are shown in Table 4 and Figure 4A. CGA-guided care was independently associated with a reduction in complications after adjusting for baseline covariates (adjusted OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.14-0.87; P = 0.024); a high comorbidity burden was also an important predictor (CCI ≥ 3, adjusted OR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.02-6.43; P = 0.045). Age, nutritional risk (NRS-2002 ≥ 3), functional status (Barthel Index < 80), and cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24) did not reach statistical significance as independent predictors. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated good model fit (χ2 = 4.86, P = 0.772). All variance inflation factor values were < 2.5.

Figure 4
Figure 4 Multivariable analysis. A: Forest plot of the multivariate logistic regression for postoperative complications, blue squares indicate statistically significant associations (P < 0.05); B: Correlation matrix of study variables; complications and length of stay showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.58). aP < 0.05. CGA: Comprehensive geriatric assessment; CCI: Charlson Comorbidity Index; NRS-2002: Nutritional Risk Screening 2002; MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination; LOS: Length of hospital stay; CI: Confidence interval; OR: Odds ratio.
Table 4 Multivariate logistic regression analysis for postoperative complications.
Variable
Adjusted OR
95%CI
P value
CGA intervention (vs control)0.350.14-0.870.024a
Age (per year)1.060.99-1.140.089
NRS-2002 ≥ 3 (vs < 3)2.280.89-5.840.086
Barthel Index < 80 (vs ≥ 80)1.750.68-4.510.247
CCI ≥ 3 (vs < 3)2.561.02-6.430.045a
MMSE < 24 (vs ≥ 24)1.580.59-4.230.364

The multivariate linear regression results for LOS are summarized in Table 5. CGA-guided care was independently associated with a shorter LOS (adjusted β = -3.68, 95%CI: -5.72 to -1.64; P = 0.001). Other significant predictors included the presence of complications (adjusted β = 5.45, 95%CI: 3.28-7.62; P < 0.001), high comorbidity burden (adjusted β = 1.98, 95%CI: 0.42-3.54; P = 0.014), and age (adjusted β = 0.11 per year, 95%CI: 0.01-0.21; P = 0.032). The model explained 51.2% of the variance in LOS (R2 = 0.512). A correlation matrix of the study variables is shown in Figure 4B.

Table 5 Multivariate linear regression analysis for hospital length of stay.
Variable
Adjusted β
95%CI
P value
Intercept7.854.62-11.08< 0.001c
CGA intervention-3.68-5.72 to -1.640.001b
Age (per year)0.110.01-0.210.032a
Complication (yes)5.453.28-7.62< 0.001c
CCI ≥ 31.980.42-3.540.014a
Risk stratification analysis

The intervention effect by risk stratum is shown in Figure 5. Among low-risk patients (score 0-1; n = 20), the complication rates were 50.0% (control group; n = 8) vs 16.7% (observation group; n = 12). Among moderate-risk patients (score 2; n = 32), the complication rates were 50.0% (control group; n = 16) vs 25.0% (observation group; n = 16). Among high-risk patients (score 3-4; n = 26), the complication rates were 64.3% (control group; n = 14) vs 41.7% (observation group; n = 12). The LOS showed the same pattern across risk levels.

Figure 5
Figure 5 Comprehensive geriatric assessment intervention effects by risk stratification level. A: Complication rates; B: Hospital length of stay. Sample sizes: Low-risk (n = 20), moderate-risk (n = 32), high-risk (n = 26). CGA: Comprehensive geriatric assessment.
DISCUSSION

The present study showed that CGA-guided stratified nursing interventions reduced postoperative complication rates in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery (27.5% vs 55.3%) and shortened the LOS (16.2 days vs 20.8 days). These findings remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustment (adjusted OR = 0.35 for complications; adjusted β = -3.68 days for LOS), supporting an independent protective effect of CGA-guided nursing care.

The complication rate of 55.3% recorded for the control group is consistent with that reported among elderly patients after major abdominal surgery. Jakobson et al[27] reported that an overall complication rate after gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, or pancreatic surgery of 33.5%, exceeding 44% in the high-risk subgroup. The higher rate observed in our study is likely due to the higher proportion of patients ≥ 60 years and inclusion of Clavien-Dindo grade II events. With CGA-guided care, the complication rate decreased to 27.5%, similar to the rates reported in younger surgical populations.

Our findings on nutritional risk are consistent with existing evidence. Sun et al[28] reported in a systematic review and meta-analysis that an NRS-2002 score indicating nutritional risk is associated with a three-fold higher likelihood of postoperative complications (pooled OR = 3.13, 95%CI: 2.51-3.90) and 5.58-day longer LOS. In our multivariate model, NRS-2002 ≥ 3, Barthel Index < 80, and MMSE < 24 were not independent predictors of postoperative complications. A low Barthel Index has been reported as a predictor of postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery[29]. We did not interpret these P-values as evidence of a trend; with 78 patients and 32 events, the study had limited statistical power to detect modest independent effects in any of these domains, and these findings should thus be interpreted as inconclusive rather than directional.

A high comorbidity burden, as defined by the CCI, was an independent predictor of complications in our cohort (adjusted OR = 2.56; P = 0.045), consistent with previous studies. Laor et al[30] reported that a higher CCI was associated with a higher risk of death in older surgical patients, and Fabbian et al[31] reported that the risk of death increased by approximately 13% per one-point increase in the CCI.

The absolute postoperative delirium rate was lower in the CGA group than in the control group (12.5% vs 21.1%); however, this between-group difference did not reach the conventional threshold for statistical significance and was thus interpreted as inconclusive. Postoperative delirium after gastrointestinal surgery affects 15%-35% of patients aged > 65 years and is associated with a prolonged LOS and increased mortality[32,33]. Multicomponent, non-pharmacological delirium interventions can reduce the incidence of delirium by approximately 40%[34]. Whether CGA-guided nursing achieves a comparable absolute reduction in delirium can only be established in an adequately powered prospective study.

The absolute difference in 30-day readmission rate (5.0% vs 18.4%) did not reach the conventional threshold for statistical significance (P = 0.076); given the sample size of 78 patients, the study had insufficient statistical power to confirm a between-group difference of clinical interest, and this finding thus requires confirmation in an adequately powered study.

Importantly, no significant baseline differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, sex, nutrition, function, comorbidity burden, or cognition. This baseline balance strengthens internal validity and reduces the likelihood of selection bias, although it cannot fully replace randomization.

The present study has several limitations. First, this was a single-center retrospective study, which limits the generalizability of our findings. Second, as only 78 patients were included, we had limited statistical power to detect modest effects in nonsignificant CGA domains. Third, the relatively short study period may not have captured long-term outcomes. Fourth, without randomization, residual confounding by indication and allocation mechanism cannot be excluded; although both patient groups were drawn concurrently from the same ward and managed by the same surgical and nursing teams, allocation to CGA-guided care depended on availability of the CGA-trained nursing team and patient/family acceptance. Fifth, the nonblinded design introduced potential observer bias in the outcome assessment. Despite these limitations, the present study provides preliminary support for the feasibility of CGA-guided nursing interventions in elderly surgical patients.

Future research should include prospective randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes to confirm our findings. Systematic identification of older adults at elevated risk of harm after elective surgery may help target CGA-guided nursing to those most likely to benefit[35]. Cost-effectiveness analyses would help inform health-policy decisions, and component analyses of the intervention bundle would help identify which elements of CGA-guided care contribute the most to improved outcomes. Moreover, implementation research would help inform the sustainable integration of CGA-guided nursing into routine perioperative care.

CONCLUSION

CGA-guided stratified nursing intervention reduced postoperative complications (27.5% vs 55.3%; P = 0.013) and shortened the LOS (16.2 days vs 20.8 days; P < 0.001) in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal or hepatobiliary surgery. The effects remained significant after adjustment for other covariates (complication-adjusted OR = 0.35; P = 0.024, LOS-adjusted β = -3.68 days; P = 0.001). Hospitals should consider the systematic integration of CGA-guided perioperative nursing for elderly surgical patients. Further prospective randomized trials and cost-effectiveness analyses are warranted.

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Footnotes

Peer review: Externally peer reviewed.

Peer-review model: Single blind

Specialty type: Gastroenterology and hepatology

Country of origin: China

Peer-review report’s classification

Scientific quality: Grade B, Grade C

Novelty: Grade B, Grade C

Creativity or innovation: Grade B, Grade B

Scientific significance: Grade C, Grade C

P-Reviewer: Chopde A, PhD, United States; Dhanarajan A, MD, Canada S-Editor: Zuo Q L-Editor: A P-Editor: Zhao YQ

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