title: Analysis of Factors Affecting Short-term Results in Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Surgical Resection for Stage I-II Colon Cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of comorbidities and to compare the short-term results of elective surgical resection of stage I-II colon adenocarcinoma in elderly (≥65 years) versus younger patients.
  
  
  
  Two groups of sex-matched younger and older patients were compared: Group A: N=36, median age 58 (range=43-65) years; and group B: N=67, median age 73 (range=66-86) years.
  
  
  
  Overall, 71 out of 103 (68.9%) patients had one or more comorbidities. A greater number of older patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score >2 (p=0.004) and were on multiple medications (polypharmacy) (p=0.016), but the distribution of the other parameters was similar (p≥0.05). Intra- and postoperative complications in group A vs. B occurred in 25.0% vs. 26.9%, and 47.2% vs. 64.2%, respectively (p≥0.05).
  
  
  
  Elderly patients with colon cancer scheduled to elective surgical resection should not be considered at increased risk of intra- or short-term postoperative complications with respect to younger patients. However, they require careful individual preoperative evaluation because they are usually polypharmacy users and have a higher ASA score.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Surgery, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy Drsteba@tin.it stefano.basso@aas5.sanita.fvg.it.
authors.forename: Stefano M M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, School of Medicine, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lumachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Surgery, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pianon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Surgery, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Surgery, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maffeis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Surgery, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ubiali
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Elderly; colorectal cancer; comorbidities; complications; short-term results