The clinical evidence of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score for outcomes has increased in gastroenterological surgical oncology. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the CONUT score on outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A literature review was systematically conducted to evaluate the significance of the CONUT score in CRC patients. Meta-analyses of survival were performed to investigate the effects of the CONUT score in CRC patients. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, and six studies with 2601 patients were included in the present meta-analyses. High CONUT score was associated with poor overall survival (HR 1.97, 95%CI = 1.40-2.77, P < 0.001), cancer-specific survival (HR 3.64, 95%CI = 1.96-6.75, P < 0.001), and recurrence/relapse-free survival (HR 1.68, 95%CI = 1.23-2.29, P = 0.001) after CRC surgery. The CONUT score is a practical prognostic factor associated with prognosis of CRC. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of the CONUT score in CRC patients.

In recent years, the clinical evidence of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score has increased in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between the preoperative CONUT score and outcomes in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC). A systematic literature search for studies reporting the prognostic impact of the CONUT score in patients with GC was conducted. Meta-analyses of survival, postoperative outcomes, and postoperative clinico-pathological parameters were conducted. Five studies with 2482 patients were found to be eligible and subsequently reviewed and analyzed. The CONUT score was significantly associated with overall survival (HR 1.85, 95%CI 1.38–2.48, P < 0.001), cancer-specific survival (HR 2.56, 95%CI 1.24–5.28, P = 0.01) and recurrence/relapse-free survival (HR 1.43, 95%CI 1.12–1.82, P = 0.004). Moreover, the CONUT score was associated with the incidence of postoperative complications (OR 1.39, P = 0.003) and mortality (OR 6.97, P = 0.04), and clinico-pathological parameters (T factor [OR 1.75, P < 0.001], N factor [OR 1.51, P < 0.001], TNM stage [OR 1.73, P < 0.001], and microvascular invasion [OR 1.50, P = 0.006]), but not with tumor differentiation (OR 0.85, P = 0.13). The preoperative CONUT score is an independent prognostic indicator of survival and postoperative complications, and is associated with clinico-pathological parameters in patients with GC.

Recently, skeletal muscle depletion (sarcopenia) has been reported to influence postoperative outcomes after certain procedures. This study investigated the impact of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients (n = 219) who underwent PD at our institution between January 2007 and May 2013. Sarcopenia was evaluated using preoperative computed tomography. We evaluated postoperative outcomes and the influence of sarcopenia on short-term outcomes, especially infectious complications. Subsequently, multivariate analysis was used to assess the impact of prognostic factors (including sarcopenia) on postoperative infections. The mortality, major complication, and infectious complication rates for all patients were 1.4%, 16.4%, and 47.0%, respectively. Fifty-five patients met the criteria for sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality (P = 0.004) and infectious complications (P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, sarcopenia (odds ratio = 3.43; P < 0.001), preoperative biliary drainage (odds ratio = 2.20; P = 0.014), blood loss (odds ratio = 1.92; P = 0.048), and soft pancreatic texture (odds ratio = 3.71; P < 0.001) were independent predictors of postoperative infections. Sarcopenia is an independent preoperative predictor of infectious complications after PD. Clinical assessment combined with sarcopenia may be helpful for understanding the risk of postoperative outcomes and determining perioperative management strategies.

Background/Aim: The present study aimed to examine the association of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score with outcomes in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (EC). Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out to investigate the impact of the CONUT score in EC. Next, meta-analysis of long-term outcomes was performed. Results: The search found six eligible retrospective studies, and five studies with 952 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis found a significant association of the CONUT score with outcomes including overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=2.51, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.75-3.60, p<0.001], cancer-specific survival (HR=2.60, 95%CI=1.53-4.41, p<0.001), and recurrence free survival (HR=2.08, 95%CI=1.39-3.12, p<0.001). Conclusion: The CONUT score may be an independent predictor associated with prognosis in patients undergoing esophagectomy for EC. However, further studies are needed to clarify the association of the CONUT score with postoperative outcomes in EC patients.