Persistent postoperative inflammation increases risk of muscle loss.

A study involving 193 colon cancer patients revealed that only those with persistent postoperative inflammation faced a heightened risk of muscle wasting and poor prognosis. Groups characterized by consistent high inflammation demonstrated significant increases in muscle loss compared to those with low inflammation. Elevated inflammation was identified as an independent risk factor for postoperative sarcopenia, with implications for overall and recurrence-free survival. Modifying postoperative inflammation may enhance patient outcomes and guide future anti-inflammatory therapy development.