Introduction: Associations between frailty and women with pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) are not well understood. This study seeks to describe studies among women with PFD and the associated frailty assessments as recommended in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program/American Geriatric Society (ACS NSQIP/AGS) guidelines.
Methods: This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) criteria are applied to assess study quality. Data synthesis is descriptive. Outcomes of interest include the ratio of studies adhering to the ACS NSQIP/AGS guidelines and evidence for frailty assessments versus usual care for women with PFDs.
Results: Twenty studies regarding frailty and PFDs were included for systematic review. Studies were categorized as relating to (1) epidemiology, (2) frailty and incontinence, (3) postoperative morbidity, and (4) surgical choice. Most studies (5/20) did not define frailty or failed to follow the ACS NSQIP/AGS guidelines. All studies were of very low to low quality. Collectively, each category generated very low GRADE quality evidence of frailty and the relationship to PFDs.
Conclusions: Most studies regarding frailty among women with PFDs did not define frailty as recommended in the ACS NSQIP/AGS guidelines. The evidence regarding PFDs and frailty is of very low quality. This is the first systematic review regarding frailty assessments specifically among women with PFDs. Paucity of data regarding frailty in women with PFDs, particularly with regard to surgical choice and surgical counseling, highlights the need for further study in this area.