Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41963596›Full record

ArticleBritish journal of cancer2026

The utility of electronic frailty index in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Agnieszka Michael, Jennie Huynh, Katie Sutton, Man-Chie Chow, Elizabeth Ford, Janine Mansi, Peter Selby, Simon Skene, Jo Armes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in British journal of cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Agnieszka MichaelUniversity of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. a.michael@surrey.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7262-6227
Jennie HuynhUniversity of Edinburgh, Usher Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Katie SuttonUniversity of Surrey, School of Health Sciences, Kate Granger Building, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Man-Chie ChowRoyal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Oncology, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth FordBrighton and Sussex Medical School, Division of Public Health and Primary Care, Brighton, United Kingdom.
Janine MansiGuy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-3051
Peter SelbySt James' University Hospital, Cancer Research Building, Leeds, United Kingdom.
Simon SkeneClinical Research Building, Guildford, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7828-3122
Jo ArmesUniversity of Surrey, School of Health Sciences, Kate Granger Building, Guildford, United Kingdom.

Funding

DH | NIHR | Research for Patient Benefit Programme (NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme) NIHR200517
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFrail patients with cancer (Ca) have worse survival. Current methods of assessment of fitness (performance status) for cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, are time -consuming and often not used by practicing oncologists. The electronic frailty index (SCARF) is derived from a cumulative deficit frailty model and provides a measure of frailty alongside pre-existing conditions. We used this methodology to investigate whether it can predict outcomes of chemotherapy in patients with Ca.

methodsThe study conducted data analysis of Ca patients treated with chemotherapy in England, years 2015-2018; stage II-III breast Ca, stage III colon Ca and stage IIIB-IV non-small-cell lung Ca. The data was linked with hospital admissions to calculate 30-day chemotherapy mortality, overall survival and SCARF.

resultsThe SCARF was calculated for 78,799 patients. The risk of dying within 30 days of chemotherapy in severely frail patients with colorectal cancer ≥70 y.o. was twice that of the <70 y.o. (OR 2.04 -95% CI 1.58-2.64, mild frailty 1.07-95% CI 0.78-1.45); and 6 times higher in breast cancer (OR 5.73-95% CI 2.66-12.32, mild frailty OR 1.45 95% CI 0.78-2.71).

conclusionThe SCARF index predicts poor outcomes from SACT, particularly in breast and colon cancer, and it requires further evaluation.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungFrailtyLung NeoplasmsNeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overColorectal NeoplasmsEnglandFemaleFrail ElderlyHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID41963596
PMCPMC13226714

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.