Extracellular water to total body water ratio, a novel predictor of recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

BackgroundTotal body water (TBW) fraction, which accounts for 60% of body weight, is an important indicator of body composition, and the extracellular water to TBW ratio (ECW/TBW) is reportedly useful in predicting clinical outcomes of patients with organ disorders. We aimed to clarify the clinical impact of preoperative ECW/TBW status on survival outcomes in cancer patients.MethodsWe used a database of 320 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who underwent potentially curative resections. Preoperative ECW/TBW was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and its correlation with patient survival outcomes, clinicopathological factors, laboratory data, and comorbidities were analyzed.ResultsA high preoperative ECW/TBW was significantly associated with poorer relapse‐free survival (RFS; p = 0.001) and overall survival (OS; p = 0.003). A high ECW/TBW ratio was significantly associated with older age (p < 0.001), low BMI (p = 0.009), and right‐sided tumors (p = 0.03). In a multivariate analysis, a high ECW/TBW significantly predicted a higher RFS mortality (HR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.10–3.88, p = 0.024) and OS mortality (HR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.25–8.36, p = 0.016). Furthermore, a high ECW/TBW was significantly associated with lower hemoglobin (p < 0.001) and albumin levels (p < 0.001), but not comorbidities.ConclusionsA high preoperative ECW/TBW was a predictive factor for recurrence and poorer overall survival independent of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage. Our data suggest that preoperative evaluation of ECW/TBW using BIA might serve as a novel tool for developing CRC treatment strategies.

Extracellular Water Ratio and Phase Angle as Predictors of Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Accurate TBW measurements are essential for assessing hydration status, nutritional status, and overall health, particularly in clinical settings where precise fluid balance evaluation is critical [ 34 ]. Understanding and measuring TBW and its components (ICW and ECW) are crucial in both clinical and research contexts [ 35 , 36 ]. COPD patients with higher ECW/TBW had worse clinical outcomes [ 37 ].…”