The impact of age on post-operative outcomes of colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment

patients on hospital database treated for colorectal cancer during the period 1995 – 2002 were divided into two groups: Group 1 – patients of 75 years or older (n = 154), and Group 2 – those younger than 75 years (n = 532).In Group 1, for colon cancers, proximal tumors were significantly more common (23% vs. 13.5%, p < 0.05), complicated cases were more frequent (46 % vs. 33%, p = 0.002), bowel obstruction more common at presentation (40% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.001), and more frequent emergency surgery required (24% vs. 14%, p = 0.003). Postoperative overall morbidity was higher in the elderly group, but with no differences in surgical complications rate. Overall 5 year survival was 39% vs. 55% (p = 0.0006) and cancer related 5 year survival was 44% vs. 62% (p = 0.0006). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age was not an independent risk factor for postoperative mortality.Preoperative complications and co-morbidities, more advanced disease, and higher postoperative nonsurgical complication rates adversely affect postoperative outcomes after surgery for colorectal cancer in the elderly.Colorectal cancer is a disease of elderly, with only 5% recorded in those younger than 40 years. Elderly patients form a highly heterogeneous group in respect of both general physical status, and number and types of co-morbidities [1,2]. This, to some degree, has resulted in different concepts in management, not only from surgical and anesthesiological perspectives, but also from the expectancy of uneventful recovery and long term survival, combined with acceptable quality of life. Historically, it was suggested that elderly patients do not fare well after surgery for colorectal cancer, with high rates of emergency presentations, inoperability and peri-operative mortality [3], although more recent publications have encouraged the same surgical approach as for younger patients [2,4,5]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate impact of age on colorectal cancer presentation, surgical manage