The impact of age on post-operative outcomes of colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment.
BACKGROUND
the purpose of study was to evaluate the impact of age on outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery.


METHODS
patients on hospital database treated for colorectal cancer during the period 1995 - 2002 were divided into two groups: Group 1--patients of 75 years or older (n = 154), and Group 2--those younger than 75 years (n = 532).


RESULTS
In Group 1, for colon cancers, proximal tumors were significantly more common (23% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.05), complicated cases were more frequent (46 % vs. 33%, p = 0.002), bowel obstruction more common at presentation (40% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.001), and more frequent emergency surgery required (24% vs. 14%, p = 0.003). Postoperative overall morbidity was higher in the elderly group, but with no differences in surgical complications rate. Overall 5 year survival was 39% vs. 55% (p = 0.0006) and cancer related 5 year survival was 44% vs. 62% (p = 0.0006). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age was not an independent risk factor for postoperative mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative complications and co-morbidities, more advanced disease, and higher postoperative nonsurgical complication rates adversely affect postoperative outcomes after surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly.
Latkauskas
Tadas
T
Department of Surgery, Kaunas Medical University Clinics, Eiveniu 2, Kaunas, Lithuania. Tadas.Latkauskas@kmuk.lt
Rudinskaite
Giedre
G
Kurtinaitis
Juozas
J
Janciauskiene
Rasa
R
Tamelis
Algimantas
A
Saladzinskas
Zilvinas
Z
Pavalkis
Dainius
D
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome