Clinical Significance of Preoperative Serum Albumin Levels in Predicting Survival After Surgery in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Resection

Introduction: Colorectal cancer surgery outcomes are influenced not only by tumor characteristics but also by the patient’s nutritional and inflammatory status. Serum albumin, a widely available biomarker, reflects both physiological reserve and systemic inflammation and has been linked to postoperative prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of preoperative serum albumin levels in predicting survival after colorectal cancer surgery.Material and methods: This observational analytical study was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ at hospitals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. A total of ۸۵ colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgical resection were enrolled using convenience sampling. Demographic characteristics, clinical variables, tumor features, preoperative serum albumin levels, and postoperative survival outcomes were collected and analyzed to evaluate the prognostic value of albumin.Results: Among ۸۵ patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery, hypoalbuminemia (<۳.۵ g/dL) was present in ۳۶.۴۷%. Lower albumin was associated with higher BMI (P = ۰.۰۴۱) and advanced tumor stage (P = ۰.۰۳۲). Patients with low albumin had shorter survival (۲۴.۸۳ ± ۹.۷۱ vs ۳۳.۴۷ ± ۱۱.۲۶ months; P = ۰.۰۰۶) and higher mortality (۳۵.۴۸% vs ۱۶.۶۷%; P = ۰.۰۴۷). Hypoalbuminemia independently predicted mortality (HR = ۲.۴۷, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۲۹–۴.۷۳; P = ۰.۰۰۶) with good ROC performance (AUC = ۰.۸۰).Conclusion: Preoperative hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with poorer survival after colorectal cancer surgery and remained an independent predictor of mortality. These findings highlight the importance of assessing nutritional and inflammatory status before surgery. Serum albumin, as a simple and accessible biomarker, may assist clinicians in identifying high risk patients and improving preoperative risk stratification.

کلیدواژه ها:

colorectal cancer surgery ، Serum albumin ، Prognostic Biomarker ، Postoperative Survival