Prognostic factors for short-term and long-term outcomes of gastric cancer surgery for elderly patients: 10 years of experience at a single tertiary care center

This retrospective study aimed to verify the short-term and long-term outcomes of elderly patients who underwent gastric resection for gastric cancer and to compare the results between younger and elderly patients. 222 Patients, who underwent gastrectomy between January 2005 and December 2014, were divided into 2 groups: ≤ 75 years old (group A) and > 75 years (group B). The groups were homogeneous except for more advanced pathological stage ( p = 0.011) and higher number of comorbidities in group B ( p < 0.001) and a higher rate of neoadjuvant or adjuvant complementary therapy in group A ( p = 0.029 and p < 0.001). Perioperative morbidity rates were 38.7 and 65.5% ( p = 0.001), and mortality rates were 2.5 and 7.9% ( p = ns), respectively. The independent negative prognostic factors for morbidity were age older than 75 years [odds ratio (OR) 2.7], multiple organ resection (OR 2.4), and male gender (OR 1.8). The 36-month survival rates were 76.1% and 42.1% ( p = 0.002) and disease-free survival rates were 85% and 76.3% ( p = 0.017), respectively. Surgical indications should not be limited by age.