Prognostic Impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in Elderly Patients With Colorectal Cancer

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index in elderly patients with colorectal cancer and to evaluate the utility of this new system.

Patients and Methods: Elderly patients aged 65 years and older who had undergone curative resection for colorectal cancer during the study period among all patients who received initial treatment for colorectal cancer at our hospital between 2014 and 2022 (n=373) were targeted. We retrospectively investigated the relationship between preoperative Geriatric nutritional risk index and overall and recurrence free survival rate. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic factors after curative resection for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Results: Two hundred and fifty patients underwent initial curative resection during the study period. The median survival times for patients with Geriatric nutritional risk index <102 and ≥102 were 34.5 and 62.7 months, respectively (p<0.01). Multivariable analysis identified the following independent risk factors associated with poor prognosis: laparotomy surgical approach (hazard ratio=2.58, 95% confidence interval=1.67-3.97, p<0.01), Geriatric nutritional risk index <102 (hazard ratio=1.62, 95% confidence interval=1.04-2.51, p=0.03).

Conclusion: The Geriatric nutritional risk index was an independent prognostic factor in elderly patients. Geriatric nutritional risk index may facilitate multidisciplinary decision-making in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.