Table III.

Overview of literature on frailty

Study	Type	Participants/age	n	Treatment	Frailty tool	Outcome	Limitations
Bras et al. (19) 2015	Retrospective study	Patients aged ≥65 years with head and neck cancer	90	Surgery	GFI	-Frailty did not predict postoperative complications - The GFI section ‘health problems’ was a significant predictor for postoperative complications -Frail patients experienced more often difficult postoperative recovery	- Both mucosal and cutaneous head and neck cancer were included - Retrospective character, with no information about the decision-making of both the patient and surgeon
De Vries et al. (20) 2019	Prospective study	Patients with cutaneous head and neck malignancies Mean age 78.9 years	151	Surgery	G8, GFI	- Frailty measured by the G8 was the strongest predictor of postoperative complications - The GFI had no significant influence on postoperative complications	Study performed in a tertiary care hospital, which included a high amount of complex patients and tumours
Valdatta et al. (21) 2019	Retrospective study	Patients with massive KC, aged ≥65 years, mean age 81 years	587	Plastic/reconstructive surgery	FRAIL scale	-The FRAIL scale was predictive of mortality or surgical complications - FRAIL scores 4 and 5 were the best predictors of mortality or moderate/ severe complications - FRAIL score 5 was the best predictor of mortality or severe complications	Overall deaths of the old study population may confound deaths specifically related to surgery

GFI: Groningen Frailty Index; G8: Geriatric 8.