Sarcopenia is associated with postoperative infection and delayed recovery from colorectal cancer resection surgery

Abstract

Background: Skeletal muscle depletion (sarcopenia) predicts morbidity and mortality in the elderly and cancer patients. Methods :We tested whether sarcopenia predicts primary colorectal cancer resection outcomes in stage II-IV patients (n234). Sarcopenia was assessed using preoperative computed tomography images. Administrative hospitalisation data encompassing the index surgical admission, direct transfers for inpatient rehabilitation care and hospital re-admissions within 30 days was searched for International Classification of Disease (ICD)-10 codes for postoperative infections and inpatient rehabilitation care and used to calculate length of stay (LOS).Results:Overall, 38.9% were sarcopenic; 16.7% had an infection and 9.0% had inpatient rehabilitation care. Length of stay was longer for sarcopenic patients overall (15.9±14.2 days vs 12.3±9.8 days, P0.038) and especially in those 65 years (20.2±16.9 days vs 13.1±8.3 days, P0.008). Infection risk was greater for sarcopenic patients overall (23.7% vs 12.5%; P0.025), and especially those 65 years (29.6% vs 8.8%, P0.005). Most (90%) inpatient rehabilitation care was in patients 65 years. Inpatient rehabilitation was more common in sarcopenic patients overall (14.3% vs 5.6%; P0.024) and those 65 years (24.1% vs 10.7%, P0.06). In a multivariate model in patients 65 years, sarcopenia was an independent predictor of both infection (odds ratio (OR) 4.6, (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5, 13.9) P<0.01) and rehabilitation care (OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.04, 9.4) P<0.04). Conclusion :Sarcopenia predicts postoperative infections, inpatient rehabilitation care and consequently a longer LOS. © 2012 Cancer Research UK All rights reserved.