Patient Age and Long-term Survival in Colorectal Cancer Patients Who Undergo Emergency Surgery

Emergency surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) is a high-risk procedure with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially for older patients. The relationship between patient age status and long-term outcomes is unclear. We hypothesize that patient age might be associated with long-term outcomes in patients with CRC who undergo emergency surgery.

Utilizing a database of CRC patients who received emergency surgery, we examined the prognostic association of patient age.

The ≥80-years group was significantly associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, bowel obstruction, N stage, shorter operating time, and less adjuvant chemotherapy (all p<0.03); and also, with shorter recurrence-free survival [multivariable hazard ratio, 2.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-7.21; p=0.026]. ASA status and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (all p<0.03).

Advanced age is associated with shorter recurrence-free survival in CRC patients who undergo emergency surgery.