Is age a risk factor of postoperative complications in colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in elderly with peak of incidence in 7. and 8. decade of life. Elderly patients with colorectal cancer more often require surgery. Advanced age of patients seems to increase the risk of postoperative complications. The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of early complications in two groups of patients: under 75 and over 75, undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery.

440 consecutive adult patients subjected to colorectal cancer surgery between 08.2006 to 10.2011 in Oncological Surgery Department, Gdynia Centre of Oncology. Group A (over 75 year-of-life): 109 patients, median 79 and group B (up to 75 year-of-life): 331 patients, median 65. Patients requiring emergency surgery were excluded from the study. Postoperative 30-day mortality, anastomotic leakage, wound infection, bowel obstruction, postoperative respiratory and circulatory insufficiency were among analyzed complications.

Symptomatic disease was observed in 81.6% of group A and in 83% of group B. Groups A and B were comparable concerning: BMI, gender, tumor staging, rate of curative and palliative resections, and duration of hospital stay. Accompanying diseases were more common in group A (83% vs 65%; p<0.0002). Early complications occurred in 21.1% of patients from group A and in 19.9% from group B. The rate of reoperation in early perioperative period didn't differ (6.4% vs 5.7%). Features like: age, gender, additional illnesses, tumor location and staging did not influence the occurrence of perioperative complications.

Age itself is not a risk factor for postoperative complications in spite of higher rate of accompanying diseases in elderly.