Inappropriate drug use in elderly patients is associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased postoperative mortality after colorectal cancer surgery: a population-based study.

AIM: The study aimed to investigate whether continuing potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is associated with length of hospital stay (LOS) and postoperative mortality in elderly people undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. METHOD: The Swedish National Colorectal Cancer Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register provided matched data on 7279 patients aged 75 years or more who had undergone bowel resection for colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2010. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they were taking PIM at the time of surgery. The primary efficacy variables were the LOS and 30-day postoperative mortality. RESULTS: Of the 7279 patients, 22.5% (1641) of the patients were exposed to at least one PIM and the total number of drugs taken in this group was six, compared with three in the non-PIM group (P < 0.001). Postoperative mortality was higher in the PIM group (7.1% vs 4.5%, P < 0.001), and LOS was longer (10 days vs 9, P = 0.001). When adjusted for independent predictors, the differences in LOS (odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.29, P = 0.046) and postoperative mortality (odds ratio 1.43; 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.85, P = 0.006) remained significant. CONCLUSION: The use of PIM prior to surgery is associated with increased postoperative mortality and prolonged hospital stay. Although no causal relationship is proved, the results add a further aspect to preoperative optimization of elderly patients about to have major colorectal surgery.

Management of colon cancer in the elderly: a population-based study.

AIM: Although the median age of patients diagnosed with colon cancer is over 70 years, little is known about specific characteristics and management in the elderly. The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of colon cancer in elderly patients and compare the quality of preoperative assessment and surgery with that of younger patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer. METHOD: Data on 15,255 patients diagnosed with colon cancer between 2007 and 2010 were retrieved from the Swedish National Colon Cancer Register. Of these, 12,959 underwent surgical resection: 6141 were 75 years or older while 6818 were younger. The χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney U-test and univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used for between-group comparison. RESULTS: Older patients were more likely to be female (54% older/48% younger) and have right-sided cancer (60% older/49% younger). Among patients who underwent resection, the elderly were less often evaluated regarding tumour stage prior to surgery (59% older/65% younger) and they were less often evaluated at a multidisciplinary team conference (26% older/34% younger). Elderly patients more frequently underwent emergency surgery (22% older/19% younger) despite having an earlier cancer stage. When adjusted for stage, fewer elderly patients underwent a radical curative procedure (OR for noncurative resection 1.19; 95% CI 1.06-1.33). CONCLUSION: Routine management of patients with colon cancer is age-dependent. Patients aged 75 years and older are less often completely staged and less often evaluated at a multidisciplinary team conference prior to surgery. Adjusted for stage, fewer elderly patients undergo curative resection.