Gallbladder-associated hospital admission and cholecystectomy rates across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (2004-2019): Are we over-intervening?

Backgrounds/Aims: To investigate if the increase in the number of cholecystectomies is proportional to symptomatic gallbladder-associated hospital admissions in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Methods: National healthcare registries were used to obtain data on all episodes of cholecystectomies and hospital admissions for patients ≥ 15 years from public and private hospitals. Results: Between 2004 and 2019, in Australia, there have been 1,074,747 hospital admissions and 779,917 cholecystectomies, 715,462 (91.7%) of which were laparoscopic, and 163,084 admissions and 98,294 cholecystectomies in NZ. The 15-54 years age group saw an increase in operative rates, +4.0% in Australia and +6.6% in NZ, and admissions, +3.7% and +5.8%, respectively. Hospital admissions decreased by -9.8% in Australia but the proportion of patients undergoing intervention increased by 10.8% (from 67.1% to 75.0% of hospital admissions). Procedural rates increased by +7.3% in NZ with no change in the intervention rate. Conclusions: In Australia, there has been a decline in symptomatic gallbladder-associated hospital admissions and a rise in intervention rate. Admissions and interventions have increased proportionally in NZ. There are higher rates of cholecystectomy and admission amongst younger demographics, compared to historical cohorts. Future research should focus on identifying risk factors for increased disease and operative rates amongst younger populations.

Epidemiological trends of gallbladder cancer in Australia between 1982 to 2018: A population-based study utilizing the Australian Cancer Database.

Backgrounds/Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare neoplasm. The epidemiology of GBC has not been updated in Australia for over five decades. Methods: Data of all Australian patients diagnosed with GBC at any age from 1982 to 2018 were identified from the Australian Cancer Database. Age-standardized rates were calculated and joinpoint analysis was performed to ascertain the trends of incidence and mortality of GBC. Results: Between 1982 and 2018, there were 22,745 cases of GBC and 11,054 GBC-related deaths in Australia. There were three distinct periods showing changed incidence. Period 1 (1982-1995) was stable. Period 2 (1996-2006) showed reduced incidence in females (3.6 to 2.8/100,000; p < 0.01) and all Australians (3.7 to 2.8/100,000, p < 0.01). Period 3 (2006-2017) demonstrated significantly increased incidence in all groups (males: 2.7 to 4.0/100,000, p < 0.01; females: 2.8 to 3.5/100,000, p < 0.01; all Australians: 2.8 to 3.7/100,000, p < 0.01). Incidence between females and males had declined from 1.10 : 1 in 1982 to 0.87 : 1 in 2017. There was a 71% reduction in mortality (3.1 to 0.9/100,000; p < 0.01). Median age at diagnosis increased from 69.7 to 74.3 years for females and from 67.2 to 73.3 years for males. Increasing incidence in the 6th to 8th decade of life in males, compared to previous years, was noted. Conclusions: Incidence, mortality, sex, and age of GBC have significantly changed in Australia since 1982. Rising incidence of GBC in Australia warrants further investigation.

Sarcopenia is a strong predictive factor of clinical and oncological outcomes following curative colorectal cancer resection.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle depletion and subsequent functional loss is common in gastrointestinal malignancy. Usual markers of nutritional status may not be part of routine workup. The predictive value of sarcopenia was assessed and compared with clinically utilized factors. The aim of this was to assess the association between computed tomography assessed sarcopenia with outcomes in colorectal cancer resection. METHODS: A total of 228 consecutive patients who underwent curative colorectal cancer resection were included. Skeletal muscle area was measured at L3, with pre-defined gender-specific cut-offs applied to a height standardized index. Albumin, body mass index and Subjective Global Assessment scores were recorded alongside measures of comorbidity. Predictors of complications, mortality, and recurrence were identified through multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Computed tomography assessed sarcopenia was significantly associated with longer stays, complications, 30-day mortality, readmissions and recurrence at 1 year. Specific associations with major, respiratory and cardiac complications were seen. It independently predicted overall complications (odds ratio 2.96, confidence interval 1.19-7.35 P = 0.019), recurrence at 1 year (odds ratio 8.00, confidence interval 1.45-44.21, P = 0.017) and an increase in comprehensive complication index of 14 (P = 0.002). Subgroup analysis found sarcopenia predicted overall complications in rectal surgery and major complications in colonic surgery. American Society of Anesthesiologists predicted complications but not major complications while cancer stage also predicted recurrence rates. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia presents an objective, available predictive factor that may be superior to current biochemical and clinical measures of nutritional and functional status. This study found it to be predictive of complication rates and recurrence after curative in colorectal cancer resection.