Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Recovery Experiences of Older Adults and Their Caregivers After Major Elective Noncardiac Surgery
Authors' conclusion
In this mixed-methods cohort study, functional recovery in the first 6 months after noncardiac major elective surgery was associated with daily living impairment for older adults and their caregivers.
Study context
- Population
- Adults aged ≥65 y with Clinical Frailty Scale score ≥4 recovering after major elective noncardiac surgery, and their caregivers; 17 hospitals in Canada, 2021–202363 interviewed
- Participants
- 289 adults
- Exposure
- Older adults vs Caregivers
- Older adultsn = 204
- Caregiversn = 85
- Outcome
- Functional status (basic and instrumental activities of daily living), care needs, and care received or provided
- Follow-up
- First 6 months after surgery
Methodological detailsmulticenter, semistructured interviews, interpretive descriptive qualitative analysis
- Multicenter
- Semistructured interviews
- Interpretive descriptive qualitative analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
More than 1 instrumental activities of daily living impairment (older adults) · 2 and 6 months postoperatively
>1 IADL impairment at 2 months: 129 of 203
64%
>1 IADL impairment at 6 months: 84 of 198
42%
>1 ADL impairment at 2 months: 68 of 203
33%
>1 ADL impairment at 6 months: 38 of 198
19%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Qualitative themes of recovery experiences
- Inadequate patient and caregiver education, preparation for surgery, and discharge
- Association of reduced independence with patient and caregivers
- Association of surgery with mental health
- Postoperative support from the health care team
- All participants wanted to be better prepared for surgery and discharge
Original publication
Recovery Experiences of Older Adults and Their Caregivers After Major Elective Noncardiac Surgery. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 March 2026. doi:10.
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