Preoperative malnutrition in elderly gastric cancer patients and adverse postoperative outcomes of radical gastrectomy.

Malnutrition is not only a prevalent condition among the elderly but also a common comorbidity in elderly people with gastric cancer (GC). Malnutrition is closely linked to high rates of postoperative complications and poor wound healing in elderly GC patients, which may lead to a higher incidence and mortality rate of GC. Malnutrition decreases the physical function of elderly GC patients after surgery, severely affecting their postoperative life quality and hindering subsequent treatments. This retrospective study was conducted by Zhao et al, focusing on the clinical baseline data, postoperative complications, and hospitalization times of elderly GC patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. Additionally, the underlying causes of poor outcomes for patients were discussed. This study may provide a solid basis for the clinical treatment of elderly GC patients in the future. Therefore, malnutrition can serve as a negative prognostic factor for curative surgery in GC patients. Addressing malnutrition and its adverse effects can benefit elderly GC patients from surgical treatment.