Work

Assessing frailty in lung transplantation candidates

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Background Frailty assessment is important while awaiting lung transplantation (LTx) as frailty is associated with disability and death before and after LTx. We assessed known risks factors and/or frailty indicators in frail/pre-frail/non-frail patients according to the ‘Short Physical Performance Battery’ (SPPB) and ‘Frailty Instrument for primary care of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe’ (SHARE-FI) instruments. We also assessed the value of SHARE-FI as a proxy to detect frail patients. Methods Frailty was assessed using SPPB and SHARE-FI in 82 patients on a waiting list for LTx. Demographic, anthropomorphic, and clinical variables were collected. The patients underwent a respiratory/cardiorespiratory, biochemical, and quadriceps muscle performance assessment. Results The mean age was 57.3 ± 9.4 years. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (41.5%) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) (30.6%) were the most common indications for LTx. Four (4.9%), 13 (15.9%), and 65 (79.3%) patients were classified as frail, pre-frail, and non-frail by SPPB. These figures were 26 (31.7%), 41 (50%), and 15 (18.3%) with SHARE-FI. SPPB found differences between frail/pre-frail patients in the physical performance (6MWD) and muscular assessment, while SHARE-FI found differences in age, 6MWD, and oxygen saturation, and a trend in muscular strength. For COPD and ILD, frailty discrimination was better with SPPB. Concordance between the two measurements was weak. All SPPB frail ILD patients were detected by SHARE-FI. Conclusion. In patients awaiting LTx, SPPB showed better discrimination than SHARE-FI for COPD and ILD. SHARE-FI seems appropriate as a preliminary screening instrument for patients with ILD.

Source: medRxiv

DOI: 10.64898/2026.09.24.26363958