Purpose: We aimed to investigate the value of inflammation-based prognostic scores for predicting early complications after radical surgery for colorectal carcinoma.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of 154 patients who underwent elective resection of colorectal carcinoma between January 2017 and December 2018 at Beijing Friendship Hospital. Univariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted. As inflammation indices, we evaluated the preoperative modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), as well as the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), postoperative GPS, and C-reactive protein levels on postoperative day 3 (POD3).
Results: Within 30 days postoperatively, complications occurred in 80 patients (51.9%). And high levels of preoperative mGPS (P=0.002), preoperative CAR (P=0.019), POD3 CAR (P< 0.001) and POD3 poGPS (P< 0.001) can significantly affect postoperative complications after surgery for colorectal cancer, with CRP on POD3 (odds ratio, 1.015; 95% confidence interval, 1.006– 1.024; P=0.001) as independent risk factors. Among all inflammation-based indicators, POD3 CAR had the highest area under the curve (0.711) and positive predictive value (83.2%). Higher CAR (≥ 2.6) on POD3 was associated with a higher rate of complications (92.9% vs 36.6%, P< 0.001), especially of infectious nature (54.8% vs 16.1%, P< 0.001).
Conclusion: CAR≥ 2.6 on POD3 reflects sustained systemic inflammation and represents a useful predictor of complications after surgery for colorectal carcinoma, facilitating early detection, timely intervention, and enhanced recovery.
Keywords: C-reactive protein, albumin, Glasgow Prognostic Score, colorectal carcinoma, surgery, postoperative complications, risk prediction