Trends in frailty in brain tumor care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a nationwide hospital network in Germany

Key summary points Aim To compare frailty among brain tumor patients in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic to the pre-pandemic era and to assess potential effects on brain tumor care. Findings Using the Hospital Frailty Risk Index, we found that the overall frailty decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic levels. The simultaneous decrease in the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index was significantly more pronounced among high compared to low frailty cases. Message Among patients hospitalized for brain tumors in Germany, levels of frailty and the burden of comorbidities decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.