COLORECTAL CANCER (CRC)

OBESITY AND ITS CO-RELATION WITH STAGING

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer. It has got significant morbidity and
mortality. It is a common malignancy. Obesity is defined as BMI equal or above 25.1 kg/m2.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing CRC and poor prognosis in patients
with colorectal cancer. We conducted a study on 414 patients to look for correlation of obesity
with T, N, M and DUKES stage and frequency of obesity in CRC patients. Period: It involved
all CRC cases presented between 2004 to 2009. Methods: It was a single center retrospective
chart review. Total patient were 414. Data was collected on Performa and analyzed on SPSS
version 19. Results: Out of 414 patients males were 243 (58.7%) and females were 171 (41.3%).
Mean age was 56 years. It was 57.7 years for males and 54.6 years for females. 221 patients
were obese. 123 patients presented in advanced DUKES stage. Mean BMI was 26 and mean
CEA level was 76.60. 134 patients presented in advanced T stage (T3 and T4). 20% patients
with positive polyp history were obese while 80% patients with positive polyp history were non
obese. Majority of patients with family history of CRC, previous history of IBD, smoking and
previous colonoscopy were non obese. Abdominal pain, abdominal distension, constipation,
bleeding per rectum and fever were more common in obese patients but this difference was not
statistically significant. About 56% of patients with abdominal pain and abdominal distension
were obese and about 59% of patients with constipation and bleeding per-rectum were obese.
About 65% of diabetic and hypertensive patients were obese (P value 0.01, 0.01) while 70%
patients with coronary artery disease were obese. Conclusion: CRC affects more males and
advanced age group. Obese CRC patients are more than non-obese patients but obesity is not
associated with advanced stage of disease. Co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus, hypertension
are more common in obese CRC patients.