Table 1.
Demographic, clinical and tumour characteristics of rectal cancer patients (n=440), stratified by age groups (<70 years and ≥70 years).
| <70 years | ≥70 years | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n = 307 | n = 133 | ||
| n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Median age in years at time of surgery (IQR) | 62.2 (55.8 – 66.6) | 74.5 (72.2 – 77.5) | <0.001 |
| Mean time since surgery in years (SD) | 5.2 (2.1) | 5.2 (2.1) | 0.94 |
| Male | 180 (58.6) | 93 (69.9) | 0.03 |
| ASA classification | 0.01 | ||
| I-II | 288 (93.8) | 114 (85.7) | |
| ≥III | 13 (4.2) | 16 (12.0) | |
| Missing | 6 (2.0) | 3 (2.3) | |
| Tumour stage | 0.41 | ||
| Stage 0 | 11 (3.6) | 5 (3.8) | |
| Stage I-II | 196 (63.8) | 93 (69.9) | |
| Stage III-IV | 100 (32.7) | 35 (26.3) | |
| Neo-adjuvant treatment | 0.01 | ||
| None | 97 (31.6) | 47 (35.3) | |
| Short-course radiotherapy | 96 (31.3) | 57 (42.9) | |
| Long-course chemoradiotherapy | 113 (36.8) | 29 (21.8) | |
| Distance of tumour from anal verge (cm) | 0.18 | ||
| <5 cm | 45 (14.7) | 9 (6.8) | |
| 5 – 9.9 cm | 116 (37.8) | 50 (37.6) | |
| 10 – 14.9 cm | 84 (27.4) | 41 (30.8) | |
| ≥15 cm | 20 (6.5) | 9 (6.8) | |
| Missing | 42 (13.7) | 24 (18.0) | |
| Technique of surgery | 0.10 | ||
| Open | 164 (53.4) | 68 (51.1) | |
| Laparoscopic | 134 (43.6) | 55 (41.4) | |
| Converted to open | 8 (2.6) | 10 (7.5) | |
| Missing | 1 (0.3) | – | |
| Type of surgery | 0.52 | ||
| Rectosigmoid resection | 12 (3.9) | 7 (5.3) | |
| (Low) anterior resection | 295 (96.1) | 126 (94.7) | |
| Temporary diverting ostomy during primary surgery | 232 (75.6) | 85 (63.9) | 0.01 |
| Median time until ostomy reversal in months (IQR) | 4.3 (2.9 – 8.0) | 4.3 (3.2 – 5.6) | 0.27 |
| Anastomotic leakage | 21 (6.8) | 9 (6.8) | 0.98 |
| Postoperative Complications (Clavien-Dindo) | 0.80 | ||
| Grade 0 (No complication) | 176 (57.3) | 80 (60.2) | |
| Grade I-II | 83 (27.0) | 35 (26.3) | |
| Grade III | 39 (12.7) | 13 (9.8) | |
| Grade IV | 9 (2.9) | 5 (3.8) |