The Effect of Gender, Age and BMI on Postoperative C-Reactive Protein Levels After Major Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

Background: The aim of this observational study was to analyze whether differences exist in postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in elderly, obese or for gender after major abdominal surgery, which might affect the diagnostic value of CRP.

Methods: Observational cohort study was made between January 2009 and January 2011 of all adult patients who underwent major abdominal surgery. Medical records and radiology were reviewed. Complications were recorded based on the classification by Clavien-Dindo. CRP data were collected up to 14 days postoperatively, or until discharge.

Results: Three hundred ninety-nine patients underwent major abdominal surgery. Seventy-four patients underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, 91 patients underwent hepato-pancreatico-billiary (HPB) surgery and 234 underwent lower GI surgery. Two hundred thirty-five patients were male. Eighty-three patients presented with a major complication (20.8%). No effect of gender or age on postoperative CRP levels was observed. Although a positive correlation was observed for BMI, this did not hold in further regression analysis.

Conclusions: No effect was observed for gender, age and BMI on postoperative CRP levels. It is proposed that the effect of surgical trauma and inflammation surpasses the effect of these related patient factors. The results further support the use of CRP as an independent marker of postoperative inflammation and complications.




J Curr Surg. 2014;4(3):61-69
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jcs236w