AB153. SOH26AB_0336. The effect of comorbidities on post-operative outcomes for rectal cancer: a scoping review
Colorectal Session II

AB153. SOH26AB_0336. The effect of comorbidities on post-operative outcomes for rectal cancer: a scoping review

Thomas Butler, Eoin Kerin, Luis Mkabaah, Dominic Butler, Michael Kerin, Aisling Hogan

Department of Surgery, The Lambe Institute for Translational Research, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland

Background: The prevalence of comorbidities among rectal cancer patients is increasing. Comorbidities are associated with poorer survival for cancer patients; however, their effects on surgical outcomes for rectal cancer are less well established, and there have been very few reviews on this topic. This study investigated the effect of comorbidities on short-term postoperative outcomes for rectal cancer and to assess the quality of the evidence for this relationship.

Methods: A comprehensive scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines using online databases. Papers published in English from 2015 to 2025 which investigated the impact of comorbidity on short-term post-operative outcomes for rectal cancer resections were included.

Results: A total of 47 papers met the inclusion criteria, and all were retrospective observational studies. Seven different approaches to measuring comorbidity were used. Only 7 (14.9%) studies investigated the effect of comorbidity on short-term postoperative outcomes as their primary aim. Five (10.6%) studies included frailty assessments. Outcomes included postoperative complication incidence, mortality, anastomotic leak incidence, and length of stay. Comorbidity indices, including the Charlson Comorbidity Index, were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in 14 (29.8%) studies; no association was found in 3 (6.4%). Specific comorbidities such as coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus were associated with adverse outcomes in 15 (31.9%) studies; there was no association in 4 (8.5%).

Conclusions: Overall comorbidity burden as well as specific comorbidities are associated with worse surgical outcomes for rectal cancer. Prospective cohort studies incorporating comorbidity and frailty may improve risk prediction.

Keywords: Ageing; comorbidities; frailty; postoperative complications; rectal cancer

Acknowledgments

None.

Footnote

Funding: None.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

doi: 10.21037/map-26-ab153
Cite this abstract as: Butler T, Kerin E, Mkabaah L, Butler D, Kerin M, Hogan A. AB153. SOH26AB_0336. The effect of comorbidities on post-operative outcomes for rectal cancer: a scoping review. Mesentery Peritoneum 2026;10:AB153.

Article Options

Download Citation

Share