The influence of high body mass index on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after surgery as primary therapy

Abstract

Background: High body mass index (BMI), a prevalent condition in the United States, is associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Its influence on a patient's outcome remains unclear. In the current study, the authors examined the impact of BMI on survival and complications in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who underwent surgery as their primary therapy. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 301 consecutive EC patients who underwent surgery but received no adjunctive therapy. Patients were segregated into 2 subgroups based on their baseline BMI: normal/low (<25 kg/m2) and high (≥25 kg/m2). Results: Seventy-six (25%) patients had a BMI <25 kg/m2 and 225 (75%) patients had a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. In the high BMI group, there were more men (P