Surgery for colorectal cancer in people aged 80 years or older – complications, risks, and outcomes

The number of older adult patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is steadily increasing with the increasing aging population. However, healthcare professionals continue to approach treatment in older adult patients while considering the potential coexistence of complications relative to their age. There is a tendency to define and limit treatment options for managing "older adult patients" at relatively younger ages. Given the progression of aging societies and aging of patients with CRC, the impact of age on post-surgical outcomes should be analyzed to guide treatment decisions and ensure the highest quality of care for this population. This study aimed to compare outcomes in patients aged approximately 80 years who have undergone surgery after being diagnosed with CRC at the National Pusan University Hospital. This retrospective observational study included 502 patients who underwent surgery after being diagnosed with CRC at Pusan National University Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon. Older adult patients underwent open surgery more frequently. No significant differences in surgical outcomes or hospital stay were found between the two groups. Moreover, no notable differences were observed in overall complications, including major surgery-related complications such as anastomotic leakage, bleeding, and infection, between the two groups. However, pneumonia was significantly more common in the older patient group (P = .016). Among patients requiring emergency surgery, the older adult group demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of emergency surgeries and complications associated with regular surgeries compared with the younger group. In older adult patients, the risk of postoperative complications should not be determined solely based on age; a comprehensive assessment is necessary. However, in the case of emergency surgery, older adult patients may be relatively vulnerable compared with younger patients.