Key result
Older age was associated with progressively increased post-operative mortality, rising by 3 percentage points every 10 years after elective and 8 percentage points after emergency CRC resections.
Why the study?
Does age impact post-operative mortality and survival following colorectal cancer resections?
Observational (n=459)
Does age impact post-operative mortality and survival following colorectal cancer resections?
Post-operative mortality after colorectal cancer resection progressively increases with age, primarily due to medical complications, though older patients are less likely to die specifically from CRC.
May inform age-stratified counseling before CRC resection; leaves open whether interventions modify risk in prospective studies.
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) increases with age. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of age and age-related factors on post-operative mortality and survival following CRC resections. METHODS: A prospectively collected database of 459 CRC resections was analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70 years (range: 25-95 years) and 54% were male. The relative proportion of female patients increased with age so that for patients aged over 77 more women were treated than men. The probability of undergoing an emergency resection (25%) did not change with age. In older patients the proportion of rectal cancers resected decreased and the proportion of hemicolectomies and Hartmann's operations performed increased. The 30-day mortality rate was 4% after elective and 11% after emergency resections. Most deaths were caused by medical complications, reflecting increased co-morbidity in the elderly. Post-operative mortality was 1% in patients under the age of 59. This increased by 3 percentage points every 10 years after elective resections and by 8 percentage points every 10 years after emergency resections. CRC-specific survival was independent of age whereas overall survival decreased so the likelihood of dying from CRC decreased with age: at age 50 half the deaths were from CRC, at age 70 a third and at age 80 a quarter. CONCLUSIONS: CRC stage and the probability of presenting as an emergency did not change with age but older patients were more likely to be female and have colon cancer. Post-operative mortality progressively increased with age. Most deaths were caused by medical complications, reflecting increased co-morbidity. Older patients were less likely to die from CRC.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
WIDDISON et al. (2011) conducted an observational in Colorectal cancer (n=459). Older age vs. Younger age was evaluated on Post-operative mortality and survival. Older age was associated with progressively increased post-operative mortality, rising by 3 percentage points every 10 years after elective and 8 percentage points after emergency CRC resections.