The survival in octogenarians undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer and its association with the nutritional status

Purposes This study explored the association between the nutritional status and survival outcomes after pancreatic cancer surgery and reconsidered surgical indications in octogenarians. Methods Three hundred and ninety-three consecutive pancreatic cancer patients who underwent resection were analyzed and grouped according to age (< 70 years old; septuagenarians [70–79 years old], and octogenarians [80–89 years old]). The Charlson age comorbidity index and nutritional parameters were recorded. Survival outcomes and their association with nutritional parameters and prognostic factors were examined. Results The overall survival was worse in the octogenarians than in other patients. The median overall survivals in the < 70 years old group, septuagenarians, and octogenarians were 27.2, 26.4, and 15.3 months, respectively ( P = 0.0828). DUPAN-2 ≥ 150 U/mL, borderline resectable/unresectable tumors, blood loss volume ≥ 500 mL, and blood transfusion were predictors of the overall survival among octogenarians. Nutritional parameter values were worse in the octogenarians than in other patients. The octogenarian age group was not an independent predictor of postoperative complications in a univariate analysis. Conclusions Survival outcomes were poor in octogenarians. However, an age ≥ 80 years old alone should not be considered a contraindication for pancreatic cancer surgery. The maintenance of perioperative nutritional status is an important factor associated with the survival.