The Comparison of the Dietary Intake Loss Between Elderly and Non-Elderly Patients After Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM: The present study quantified the changes in the dietary and nutritional intake after gastrectomy between elderly and non-elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients ≥ 75 years old were classified into the elderly group, and 127 patients < 75 years old were classified into the non-elderly group. The respective median % dietary intake losses at 1 and 3 months postoperatively were −12.4% and −5.3% in the elderly group and −8.3% and −2.8% in the non-elderly group (p = 0.075 and 0.080). On comparing the intake loss of three major nutrients, the respective median % lipid intake losses at 1 and 3 months postoperatively were −13.5% and −5.8% in the elderly group and −7.3% and 0% in the non-elderly group (p = 0.029 and 0.045). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that elderly patients experienced more serious lipid intake loss after gastrectomy than non-elderly patients.