Muscle Loss in Colorectal Cancer Tied to Poor Outcomes

Colorectal cancer patients with a muscle loss phenotype face significantly worse postoperative outcomes.

Muscle loss nearly triples the risk of complications (odds ratio 2.99) and doubles the chance of unfavorable discharge (odds ratio 2.42).
Prolonged hospital stays are common, with an odds ratio of 4.34, leading to higher total costs by over $70 per hospitalization.

Surgeons should prioritize muscle loss assessments preoperatively to better predict risks and tailor interventions.

Muscle loss is most associated with severe complications like shock, sepsis, and respiratory failure.

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