Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of esophageal cancer (EC) patients with enteral access (EA) undergoing multimodality therapy.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study analyzed data between 1997 and 2012 in Taiwan using the National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients with newly-diagnosed EC undergoing multimodality therapy were identified and classified as either EA group or no-EA group.
Results: The mortality incidence of EC patients with EA was significantly higher than in no-EA patients. The Cox model revealed the EA group had a higher risk of mortality than the no-EA group. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were at significantly higher risk of mortality compared to patients without COPD.
Conclusion: EA in EC patients undergoing multimodality therapy was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
Keywords: Enteral access; esophageal cancer; multi-modality therapy; nutritional treatment.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.