The Relationship between Functional Status and Surgical Complications in Male Older Adults with Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Loss of functionality is a common condition in older adults with cancer, while any decision to intervene surgically depends on comorbidities and functional status.

Objective: To determine the association between functional status and surgical complications in male older adults with cancer at Centro Médico Naval.

Methods: A retrospective cohort–type study was carried out, with secondary analysis of a database of male older adults with cancer followed up for two years and treated at Centro Médico Naval of Peru. The variables were surgical complications, functional status, comorbidities, geriatric syndromes and type of cancer.

Results: A number of 385 participants were assessed. Their mean age was 79.69 years (standard deviation: 4.55). 39.74% (n=153) presented surgical complications, with an association to the presence of comorbidities, the presence of two or more geriatric syndromes in 69.93% (n=107), functional dependence for basic activities in 51.63% (n=79), and functional dependence for instrumental activities in 35.95% (n=55). Regarding the frequency of complications according to type of neoplasm, the most frequent occurrence was that of colorectal cancer, accounting for 46.41% (n=71).

Conclusions: There is a significant association between functional dependence and surgical complications, a reason why it is important, not only in surgical but also in pharmacological treatment, to consider the functional status of the patient in view of a favorable treatment and, therefore, a better prognosis.

Keyword: older adult; geriatric assessment; cancer; surgical complications; chronic diseases.