Negative impact of sarcopenia on survival in elderly patients with colorectal cancer receiving surgery: A propensity‑score matched analysis

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a prognostic factor for patients with colorectal cancer and is commonly seen in elderly patients. The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the impact of preoperative sarcopenia on the short-and long-term outcomes of curative surgery for treating colorectal cancer in elderly patients. Between 2016 and 2020, patients aged ≥80 years with colorectal cancer were investigated. The total muscle cross-sectional area was calculated using computed tomography imaging at the mid-3rd lumbar vertebra. Elder sarcopenia was identified using sex-specific cut-offs. Out of 106 elderly colorectal cancer patients, 27 patients were diagnosed with elder sarcopenia. Patients with elder sarcopenia had a reduced body mass index (19.7±2.5 vs. 22.5±2.9 kg/m 2 ; P<0.01), an advanced pN stage (P<0.01) and an advanced stage (stage 3) (P= 0.029). Elder sarcopenia had a negative impact on relapse-free survival (3-year, 78.4 vs. 91.1%; P= 0.049) and overall survival (3-year, 73.0 vs. 93.9%; P= 0.022). Propensity score-matched analysis was performed, matching 27 patients in each group to remove selection bias, which demonstrated elder sarcopenia had a negative impact on overall survival (3-year, 73.0 vs. 100%; P<0.01). Overall, elder sarcopenia was prevalent in 25% of elderly patients with colorectal cancer that received curative surgery, and it was a poor prognostic indicator in this patient population.