The Prognostic Significance of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Geriatrics
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health challenge.
• Identifying reliable prognostic markers is crucial for optimizing CRC patient management.
• Nutritional status is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing cancer outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prognostic significance of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
• To determine if GNRI can predict overall survival (OS) and mortality causes in surgically treated CRC patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records from 329 colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative surgery.
• Calculation of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) using serum albumin and body weight.
• Statistical analysis including survival analysis and multivariate regression to assess GNRI's predictive value.

Main Results:

• A lower GNRI score (<98) was significantly associated with reduced overall survival (OS) rates (p < 0.001).
• The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) was identified as an independent predictor of OS (p = 0.042).
• Patients with lower GNRI scores exhibited a higher incidence of non-cancer death (p = 0.003) and were older (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) serves as a simple, effective prognostic indicator in colorectal cancer (CRC).
• A low GNRI score is linked to an elevated risk of non-cancer mortality in CRC patients.
• Integrating GNRI assessment may enhance prognostic stratification and clinical decision-making for CRC patients.