Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score Is A Predictor Of Post-Operative Outcomes In Elderly Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Gastrectomy: A Prospective Study

• Main Authors: Huang Y, Lu M, Sun W, Sun X, Chen X, Li L, Chandoo A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-11-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: gastric cancer; nutrition; post-operative complications; conut score; elderly patients
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/controlling-nutritional-status-conut-score-is-a-predictor-of-post-oper-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Yingpeng Huang,1,2,* Yunshi Huang,3,* Mingdong Lu,2,* Weijian Sun,2 Xiangwei Sun,2 Xiaodong Chen,2 Liyi Li,1 Arvine Chandoo,2 Leping Li1 1Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China; 2Division of GI Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leping LiDepartment of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail] ChandooDivision of GI Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is a recently developed measure that is calculated using the serum albumin level, total cholesterol level, and lymphocyte counts. The aim of this study was to examine whether the CONUT score can predict post-operative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing curative gastrectomy.Patients and methods: Pre-operative CONUT scores were evaluated from August 2014 to September 2016 in 357 gastric cancer patients who were scheduled to undergo curative gastrectomy. The patients were divided into three groups according to pre-operative CONUT scores: normal, light, moderate, and severe. We then calculated the association between the patient’s CONUT score and post-operative complications.Results: CONUT scores were statistically associated with age (P = 0.015), body mass index (P < 0.001), pre-operative hemoglobin level (P < 0.001), tumor-node-metastasis stage (P < 0.001), surgical method (P = 0.036), and post-operative complications (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that age and the CONUT score were independent predictors of post-operative complications and 1-year survival.Conclusion: CONUT scores can be used to predict post-operative complications and 1-year survival in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing curative gastrectomy. They can also be used to classify the nutritional status of patients, which can be helpful for pre–and post-operative nutritional management.Keywords: gastric cancer, nutrition, post-operative complications, CONUT score, elderly patients