Weak grip, weak anastomosis? Handgrip strength and sarcopenia as predictors of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer surgery

Table 2 Demographic, clinical, and operative characteristics according to anastomotic leakage status, mean ± SD/n (%)

Variable	No AL (n = 103)	AL (n = 14)	P value
Age in years	64.5 ± 12.8	67.2 ± 13.4	0.360
Female sex	36 (35.0)	8 (57.1)	0.130
BMI (kg/m2)	26.9 ± 2.5	25.4 ± 2.1	0.090
ASA score	2.4 ± 0.7	3.1 ± 0.8	0.020
Sarcopenia	39 (37.8)	9 (64.3)	0.040
Handgrip strength (kg)	27.5 ± 4.9	19.4 ± 3.8	< 0.001
Operative time (minutes)	178.6 ± 24.3	211.5 ± 27.8	0.010
Anastomosis type
Ileocolic	41 (39.8)	1 (7.1)
Colocolic	19 (18.4)	1 (7.1)
High colorectal	21 (20.4)	1 (7.1)
Mid colorectal	14 (13.6)	2 (14.3)
Low colorectal	7 (6.8)	6 (42.9)
Coloanal	1 (1.0)	3 (21.4)

Anastomosis type: P values were not calculated for anastomosis type due to small cell counts across categories. BMI: Body mass index; ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; AL: Anastomotic leakage.