Outcomes of Geriatric Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: The treatment modalities and outcomes of geriatric patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. This retrospective observational cohort study compared the outcomes of HCC between geriatric and younger patients. Methods: The medical records of patients with HCC managed between January 2001 and December 2017 were retrieved from the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Research Database. Patients were stratified by age into two groups: a geriatric group (65–75 years) and a younger group (p = 0.060). Consistent results were also obtained when the laboratory data associated with HCC incidence were included in the Fine–Gray competing risk model after 1:2 PSM (p = 0.1695). The major risk factors for HCC survival were systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) ≥ 610 × 109 cells/L, advanced tumor stage, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, etc. Conclusion: Age was not an independent factor for mortality in patients with HCC in the first 3 years. Geriatric patients with HCC should be as aggressively managed as younger patients.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• geriatric patients
• mortality