Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Predicts Poor Prognosis of Patients After Curative Surgery for Gastric Cancer

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a nutritional measure for predicting the risk of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. We evaluated the utility of the GNRI to predict the short-term and long-term outcomes after curative surgery for gastric cancer (GC).

Patients who underwent curative surgery for GC between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed (n=795). We classified patients into two groups according to the GNRI (high GNRI: low and no risk; low GNRI: major and moderate risk) and compared the utility of the GNRI.

A low GNRI was an independent prognostic factor for poorer overall survival (hazard ratio=2.34, p<0.001). The GNRI tended to be a better prognostic indicator in elderly patients with GC. Low GNRI was associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio=2.27, p=0.002), especially in patients aged ≥75 (odds ratio=2.26, p=0.042).

Low GNRI was associated with poor prognosis and occurrence of postoperative complications in patients with GC, especially in elderly patients.