The 5 most common elective surgeries for older adults

The most common elective surgical procedure for older adults was major joint surgery, according to a recent study.

The study, published Jan. 30 in JAMA Network Open, surveyed 2,110 adults 50- to 80-years-old in August 2021. Respondents were asked whether they had considered an elective surgery — defined as a procedure that was scheduled in advance and not done for an immediate life-threatening health problem —  in the past five years.

Of respondents, 32% reported considering having elective surgery, and 66.6% of those underwent surgery.

Here are the five most common elective surgical procedures considered:

Major joint surgery: 18.1%

Eye surgery: 12.4%

Abdominal surgery: 10.2%

Cosmetic surgery: 8.8%

Foot or leg surgery: 6.8%

Copyright © 2025 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.


You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, please review our Privacy Policy
.
 

Articles We Think You'll Like