Objective To observe the efficacy of low grip strength and grip asymmetry in predicting multiple postoperative outcomes in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

Methods A total of 257 elderly colorectal cancer patients were selected as study objects. Data on general information, grip strength indicators and adverse postoperative outcomes were collected from all patients. Associations of low grip strength, grip asymmetry with adverse postoperative outcomes were explored by Logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to further analyze the efficacy of low grip strength and grip asymmetry alone and their combination in predicting adverse outcomes of patients.

Results Grip strength, grip strength ratio, and the combination of grip strength and grip strength ratio could effectively predict the occurrence of complications. The areas under the curve (AUCs) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.649 (0.587 to 0.707), 0.627 (0.565 to 0.686), and 0.672 (0.611 to 0.729) respectively. Grip strength ratio and the combination of grip strength and grip strength ratio could effectively predict prolonged hospital stays, with AUC(95%CI) of 0.671 (0.610 to 0.728) and 0.577 (0.514 to 0.638), respectively. Grip strength and the combination of grip strength and grip strength ratio could effectively predict the occurrence of frailty, with AUC (95%CI) of 0.585 (0.522 to 0.646) and 0.586 (0.523 to 0.647), respectively.

Conclusion This study innovatively reveals the predictive efficacy of multiple grip strength indicators for postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. Low grip strength and grip asymmetry are effective in predicting the occurrence of complications in patients, grip asymmetry is effective in predicting the occurrence of prolonged hospitalization, and low grip strength is effective in predicting the occurrence of frailty in elderly patients with colorectal cancer.