Survival rates in elderly colorectal cancer patients: the impact of regional development levels

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate 5-year survival rates and associated prognostic factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients aged 65 and older.Method: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 65 and older who were diagnosed with CRC and had completed a 5-year follow-up.Data were obtained from the Cancer Registry Database of the Sivas Health Directorate and the report of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Türkiye.Results: A total of 257 elderly patients were analyzed.The median age was 73 years, and 60.3% were male.Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (95.7%), with 71.2% of tumors located in the colon.At diagnosis, 57.2% of patients had metastases, and 74.7% received treatment.The 1 and 5-year survival rates were 63.8% and 39.3%.Higher survival rates were observed among patients aged 65-79, females, and those residing in urban areas.Metastasis was the strongest predictor of poor survival, with only 11.6% of metastatic patients surviving beyond 5 years.Cox regression analysis identified metastasis and lack of treatment as the most significant predictors of reduced survival.Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical need for early diagnosis and improved access to treatment in elderly CRC patients, particularly those at higher risk.