. 2025 Feb 4;111(3):2558–2569. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002271

Table 3.

Frequencies of causes of first recurrence and death within 3 years after surgery in SMA and SSA groups.

Events	Group- No. (%)		Risk difference^a	Hazard ratio^b	95% CI	P-value^c
Events	SMA (n = 130)	SSA (n = 129)	Risk difference^a	Hazard ratio^b	95% CI	P-value^c
Recurrence^d	14 (10.8)	21(16.3)	−0.055	1.57	0.80–3.09	0.19
Local	1 (0.8)	2 (1.6)	−0.008	2.13	0.19–23.45	0.54
Peritoneum	2 (1.5)	4 (3.1)	−0.016	2.10	0.38–1.47	0.39
Liver	3 (2.3)	3 (2.3)	0	1.04	0.21–5.14	0.97
Multiple sites^e	6 (4.6)	5 (3.9)	0.007	0.87	0.27–2.85	0.82
Other or uncertain sites	2 (1.5)	7 (5.4)	−0.039	3.66	0.76–17.63	0.11
All-cause death^g	12 (9.3)	16 (12.4)	−0.031	1.37	0.65–2.90	0.41
Gastric cancer	11 (8.5)	15 (11.6)	−0.031	1.40	0.64–3.05	0.40
Other causes^h	1 (0.8)	1 (0.8)	0	1.02	0.06–16.32	0.99

^{^a}

Except for all-cause death, the risk difference was calculated by subtracting the cumulative incidence in the first 3 years of the SMA group from that of the SSA group in presence of competing events; for all-cause death, the risk difference was calculated by subtracting the 3-year overall survival rate of the SMA group from that of the SSA group.

^{^b}

Except for all-cause death: competing-risks survival regression was used to derive the hazard ratio, 95% CI, and P-value. For total recurrence, all-cause death was the competing event; for the specific types of recurrence, other types of recurrence and death were the competing events; for gastric cancer cause of death, other causes of death were the competing events and vice versa. Univariable Cox regression was used for all-cause death. SMA group is the reference group.

^{^c}

P value for the hazard ratios.

^{^d}

Refers only to first-time recurrence, even though patients can have recurrence at multiple times.

^{^e}

Includes patients who have recurrence simultaneously in 2 or more metastatic sites, including peritoneum, liver, lung, bone, brain, distant lymph node, or other hematogenous metastatic sites.

^{^f}

Includes hematogenous recurrence at sites other than liver (i.e. lung, bone, brain, adrenal gland), recurrence at distant lymph node, and recurrence at uncertain sites.

^{^g}

Post hoc exploratory outcomes.

^{^h}

Includes other cancers, diseases other than cancer, unintentional injuries, and unknown causes

HR: hazard ratio; CI: confidence interval; SMA: submucosal approach; SSA: subserosal approach.