Evaluation of four comorbidity indices and Charlson comorbidity index adjustment for colorectal cancer patients

Introduction

Cancer survival is related not only to primary malignancy but also to concomitant nonmalignant diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic capacity of four comorbidity indices [the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), the Elixhauser method, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) comorbidity index, and the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 (ACE-27)] for both cancer-related and all-cause mortality among colorectal cancer patients. A modified version of the CCI adapted for colorectal cancer patients was also built.

Methods

The study population comprised 468 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2010 at a community hospital. Data were prospectively collected and abstracted from patients’ clinical records. Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate logistic regression models were performed for survival and risk of death analysis.

Results

Only moderate or severe renal disease [hazard ratio (HR) 2.71, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.11–6.63] and AIDS (HR 3.27, 95 % CI 1.23–8.68) were independently associated with cancer-specific mortality, with a population attributable risk of 5.18 and 4.36 %, respectively. For each index, the highest comorbidity burden was significantly associated with poorer overall survival (NIA/NCI: HR 2.14, 95 % CI 1.14–4.01; Elixhauser: HR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.09–1.42; ACE-27: HR 1.78, 95 % CI 1.07–1.23; CCI: HR 1.68, 95 % CI 1.05–1.42) and cancer-specific survival. The modified version of the CCI resulted in a higher predictive power compared with other indices studied (cancer-specific mortality HR?=?2.37, 95 % CI 1.37–4.08).

Conclusions

The comorbidity assessment tools provided better prognostic prevision of prospective outcome of colorectal cancer patients than single comorbid conditions.     

Large-scale epidemiological data on vascular disorders of the intestine

Abstract

Objectives: This article aims to provide updates on the worldwide epidemiology of vascular disorders of the intestine.

Methods: A comprehensive search for obtaining worldwide epidemiologic information on the burden of vascular disorders of the intestine was carried out in the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) repository. The condition ‘vascular intestinal disorders’ was associated with other epidemiologic variables such as year, sex, age, location and socioeconomic status.

Results: The current global incidence and mortality of vascular disorders of the intestine are 8.11 per 100,000 cases/year and 1.26 per 100,000 deaths/year, respectively, translating into a death rate of 15.5%. Both global incidence and mortality are 32% higher in the female sex and have both displayed a continuous increase during the past 20 years (+29.3% and +18.4% since 1998, respectively). Incidence and mortality curves appear similar between sexes, with the incidence increasing after the age of 40 years and mortality after the age of 50 years, respectively. The peak of both worldwide incidence and mortality was seen in very elderly people. The death rate increased in parallel with incidence and mortality, from ～1% to 3% in childhood up to ～50% after the age of 95 years. Both incidence and mortality displayed a positive association with socioeconomic status. Future projections suggest that incidence and mortality will display 44% and 24% growths by the year 2050.

Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that the clinical and societal burden of vascular disorders of the intestine is especially higher in women, in the elderly and in people with higher socioeconomic status.