Preoperative controlling nutritional status (CONUT) is useful to estimate the prognosis after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

Purpose The aim of this study is to confirm the predictive value of controlling nutritional status (CONUT), as a postoperative prognostic marker for esophageal cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 373 patients who underwent three-incision esophagectomy with 2-or 3-field lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer between April 2005 and March 2016. The patients were divided into three groups based on the degree of preoperative malnutrition as assessed by CONUT: normal, light malnutrition, and moderate or severe malnutrition. Results The patients with moderate or severe malnutrition experienced a significantly higher frequency of reoperation (normal or light malnutrition, 6.3%; moderate or severe malnutrition, 18.2%; P = 0.033) and a higher tendency for respiratory morbidities (normal or light malnutrition, 14.0%; moderate or severe malnutrition, 27.3%; P = 0.088). Cox regression analysis identified a significantly poor prognosis, in both overall survival (hazard ratio (HR), 3.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.714-7.390; P < 0.001) and cancer-specific survival (HR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.790-6.516; P = 0.046). Conclusions CONUT is convenient and useful for preoperatively assessing malnutrition and prognosis of esophageal cancer patients who underwent surgery.