Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2012; 18(31): 4191-4198
Published online Aug 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i31.4191
Role of body mass index in colon cancer patients in Taiwan
Chih-Chien Chin, Yi-Hung Kuo, Chien-Yuh Yeh, Jinn-Shiun Chen, Reiping Tang, Chung-Rong Changchien, Jeng-Yi Wang, Wen-Shih Huang
Chih-Chien Chin, Yi-Hung Kuo, Wen-Shih Huang, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi 613, Taiwan
Chien-Yuh Yeh, Jinn-Shiun Chen, Reiping Tang, Chung-Rong Changchien, Jeng-Yi Wang, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linko 333, Taiwan
Chih-Chien Chin, Wen-Shih Huang, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Author contributions: Chin CC designed and performed most of the study and wrote the manuscript; Kuo YH helped to collect the patients’ data; Yeh CY, Chen JS, Tang R, Changchien CR, Wang JY, and Huang WS provided the patients’ data.
Correspondence to: Dr. Wen-Shih Huang, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6 Sec. West, Chia-Pu Rd., Putz City, Chiayi 613, Taiwan. wshuang77@hotmail.com
Telephone: +886-5-3621000 Fax: +886-5-3623001
Received: May 20, 2011
Revised: April 16, 2012
Accepted: April 22, 2012
Published online: August 21, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the characteristics and overall outcome of colon cancer in Taiwan.

METHODS: From January 1995 to July 2003, 2138 patients with colon cancer were enrolled in this study. BMI categories (in kg/m2) were established according to the classification of the Department of Health of Taiwan. Postoperative morbidities and mortality, and survival analysis including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared across the BMI categories.

RESULTS: There were 164 (7.7%) underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), 1109 (51.9%) normal-weight (BMI = 18.5-23.9 kg/m2), 550 (25.7%) overweight (BMI = 24.0-26.9 kg/m2), and 315 (14.7%) obese (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2) patients. Being female, apparently anemic, hypoalbuminemic, and having body weight loss was more likely among underweight patients than among the other patients (P < 0.001). Underweight patients had higher mortality rate (P = 0.007) and lower OS (P < 0.001) and DFS (P = 0.002) than the other patients. OS and DFS did not differ significantly between normal-weight, overweight, and obese patients, while CSS did not differ significantly with the BMI category.

CONCLUSION: In Taiwan, BMI does not significantly affect colon-CSS. Underweight patients had a higher rate of surgical mortality and a worse OS and DFS than the other patients. Obesity does not predict a worse survival.

Keywords: Body mass index, Colon cancer, Survival, Morbidity, Outcome