Published online Dec 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5706
Revised: October 17, 2009
Accepted: October 24, 2009
Published online: December 7, 2009
AIM: To analyze the correlation between preexisting comorbidity and other clinicopathological features, short-term surgical outcome and long-term survival in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
METHODS: According to age, 403 patients operated on for CRC in our department were divided into group A (< 70 years old) and group B (≥ 70 years old) and analyzed statistically.
RESULTS: Rectal localization prevailed in group A (31.6% vs 19.7%, P = 0.027), whereas the percentage of R0 resections was 77% in the two groups. Comorbidity rate was 46.2% and 69.1% for group A and B, respectively (P < 0.001), with a huge difference as regards cardiovascular diseases. Overall, postoperative morbidity was 16.9% and 20.8% in group A and B, respectively (P = 0.367), whereas mortality was limited to group B (4.5%, P = 0.001). In both groups, patients who suffered from postoperative complications had a higher overall comorbidity rate, with preexisting cardiovascular diseases prevailing in group B (P = 0.003). Overall 5-year survival rate was significantly better for group A (75.2% vs 55%, P = 0.006), whereas no significant difference was observed considering disease-specific survival (76.3% vs 76.9%, P = 0.674).
CONCLUSION: In spite of an increase in postoperative mortality and a lower overall long-term survival for patients aged ≥ 70 years old, it should be considered that, even in the elderly group, a significant number of patients is alive 5 years after CRC resection.