To investigate the impact of age on the short-term clinical outcomes of patients with gastric cancer.

The clinical data of four hundred and thirty-two gastric cancer patients who received surgical therapy between May 2008 and September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 230 patients aged over 60 years were set as old age group, and the other 202 patients were set as control group. The clinical outcomes occurring within 30 days after operation were compared between the two groups by chi. square test, independent-samples t test or non-parametric test. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors.

There were significant differences in the number of preoperative comorbidities, the scores of ASA, the first flatus time (P<0.05) between the two groups. The rate of postoperative pulmonary infection of elderly patients was higher than that of control group, though the difference was not statistically significant (3.91% vs 0.99%, χ²=3.703, P=0.054). The incidence rate of postoperative complication was 24.78%(57/230), which was slightly higher than that of control group (22.28%, 45/202), and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.374, P=0.541). The ratio of elderly patients who needed ICU immediately after surgery was 14.78% (34/230), which was significantly higher than that of control group (1.98%, 4/202) (χ²=21.972, P<0.01).

Age is not an independent risk factor that influences postoperative complication of gastric cancer. It is feasible and safe to perform radical gastrectomy on elderly patients of gastric cancer for safety monitoring during the operation.