Prognostic significance of socioeconomic deprivation in patients with colorectal liver metastasis undergoing liver resection: a retrospective cohort study

Aims To evaluate the effect of socioeconomic deprivation on overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). Methods The STROCSS guideline for observational studies was followed to conduct a single-centre retrospective cohort study. All consecutive patients undergoing resection of CRLM between 2013 and 2021 were considered eligible for inclusion. The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) rank was used to determine socioeconomic deprivation status of each patient. Prognostic significance of socioeconomic deprivation was determined by Kaplan–Meier survival statistics and stepwise Cox proportional-hazards regression model. Results A total of 455 patients were eligible for inclusion; 237 patients were classed as least socioeconomically deprived and 218 patients as most socioeconomically deprived. Kaplan–Meier survival statistics showed that socioeconomic deprivation was associated with significantly lower probability of overall survival (HR: 1.55, 95% CI 1.23–1.95; logrank test: P = 0.0001). The stepwise Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis identified socioeconomic deprivation as predictor of OS (HR: 1.56, P = 0.0003) alongside the following variables: ASA status 1 (HR: 0.43, P = 0.0349), presence of extrahepatic disease (HR: 1.51, P = 0.0075), number of tumours (HR: 1.07, P = 0.0221), size of largest tumour (HR: 1.01, P = 0.0003), extended hemihepatectomy (HR: 3.24, P = 0.0018) and absence of recurrence (HR: 0.55, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Socioeconomic deprivation reduces the probability of long-term overall survival following liver resection in patients with CRLM. This should be taken into account at different levels of health care planning for management of patients with CRLM including preoperative risk assessment, health care need assessment and allocation of resources.