Abstract
BackgroundThe number of colorectal cancer patients increases with age. The decision to go through major surgery can be challenging for the aged patient and the surgeon because of the heterogeneity within the older population. Differences in preoperative physical and cognitive status can affect postoperative outcomes and functional recovery, and impact on patients’ quality of life.Methods / designA prospective, observational, multicentre study including nine hospitals to analyse the impact of colon cancer surgery on functional ability, short-term outcomes (complications and mortality), and their predictors in patients aged ≥80 years. The catchment area of the study hospitals is 3.88 million people, representing 70% of the population of Finland. The data will be gathered from patient baseline characteristics, surgical interventional data, and pre- and postoperative patient-questionnaires, to an electronic database (REDCap) especially dedicated to the study.DiscussionThis multicentre study provides information about colon cancer surgery’s operative and functional outcomes on older patients. A further aim is to find prognostic factors which could help to predict adverse outcomes of surgery.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03904121). Registered on 1 April 2019.
Highlights
The proportion of older people is increasing rapidly in western countries
Many older patients may have significant comorbidities, poor nutritional, and functional status [5, 6], which have been associated with severe postoperative complications associated with reduced 30-day and 1-year survival after colon cancer surgery [7]
The decision to progress with invasive treatment can be challenging, as it should consider differences in preoperative physical and cognitive status that affect postoperative outcomes and functional recovery among the older population [19, 40]
Summary
Background and rationale The proportion of older people is increasing rapidly in western countries. The primary recommended treatment for colon cancer is surgery [3], but the decision to go through a major operation can be challenging for both the aged patient and the surgeon. Age-related concerns may lead to undertreatment of older patients, who compose a heterogeneous group with vastly different physiological and cognitive performance status [4]. Many older patients may have significant comorbidities, poor nutritional, and functional status [5, 6], which have been associated with severe postoperative complications associated with reduced 30-day and 1-year survival after colon cancer surgery [7]. The number of colorectal cancer patients increases with age. The decision to go through major surgery can be challenging for the aged patient and the surgeon because of the heterogeneity within the older population. Differences in preoperative physical and cognitive status can affect postoperative outcomes and functional recovery, and impact on patients’ quality of life
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