title: Predictive factors of years of potential life lost by colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of colorectal cancer (CRC) by estimating the years of potential life lost (YPLL) by this neoplasm in a cohort of patients, as well as to define the predictive factors of YPLL.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of 980 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated because of CRC in our institution between 1985 and 2002 was carried out. Demographic, clinical, pathological, surgical, hospital stay, complications, and mortality variables were recorded. The primary endpoint of this study was to calculate individual YPLL. Univariate analysis was performed to compare each independent variable with the variable YPLL. All clinically relevant variables significantly associated with YPLL were included in an ordinal regression model to identify independent factors prognostic of YPLL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final study sample was 794 patients, 413 (52%) men and 381 (48%) women, mean age 65.3 years [confidence interval (CI) 95%: 64.4-66.2 years; SD: 12.8]. The mean global YPLL for the 351 patients who died of CRC was 15.2 years (SD: 10.7; CI 95%: 14.1-16.3). Lower age [odds ratio (OR)=0.98; CI 95%: 0.97-0.98], male sex (OR=1.19; CI 95%: 1.00-1.43), lower tumor, nodes, metastasis (TNM) stage (OR=0.29; CI 95%: 0.24-0.35), and rectum localization of the tumor (OR=1.37; CI 95%: 1.14-1.64) were independent prognostic factors for YPLL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our community, the mean number of YPLL by CRC exceeds 15 years. Lower age, male sex, higher TNM stage, and rectum localization are negative predictors of YPLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, The Canary Islands, Spain.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez-Palma
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchena-Gomez
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorta-Espineira
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-Rocha
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bravo-Gutierrez
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Medina-Arana
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors