title: Relationship between low body mass index and morbidity after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the association between low body mass index (BMI) and morbidity after gastric cancer surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,805 patients were included in the study. These subjects had undergone gastric cancer surgery at a single institution between January 1997 and December 2013. Clinicopathologic and morbidity data were analyzed by dividing the patients into 2 groups: underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)) and nonunderweight patients (BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m(2)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall complication rate as determined by our study was 24.4%. Pulmonary complications occurred more frequently in the underweight group (UWG) than in the non-UWG (10.5% vs. 3.8%, respectively; P = 0.012). Multivariate analysis revealed two independent factors responsible for postoperative pulmonary complications-weight of the patients (UWG vs. non-UWG, 10.8% vs. 3.8%; P < 0.007) and stage of gastric cancer (early stage vs. advanced stage, 3.1% vs. 6.8%; P < 0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that underweight (UWG vs. non-UWG, 10.8% vs. 3.8%, respectively, P < 0.007) and advanced cancer stage (early stage vs. advanced stage, 3.1% vs. 6.8%, respectively, P = 0.023) were significant risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that underweight patients had a higher pulmonary complication rate. Additionally, underweight and advanced cancer stage were determined to be independent risk factors for the development of postoperative pulmonary complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chi-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea.; Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ha
keywords: Malnutrition; Morbidity; Stomach neoplasm