Survival outcome
OS was significantly longer in PN patients than in the RN cohort (see
Figure 3). The mean OS times were 165.3 and 159.9 (95% CI: 162.6-168.0
vs. 155.6-164.2; p <0.05) months in the PN and RN
groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in mortality
between groups when the patients were divided by age (≤49, 50-64, and
≥65; p =0.12). Although the mean OS was shorter in patients with
comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary
artery disease, and hyperlipidemia, than in those without comorbidities
(160.2 vs. 164.2 months), this difference was not statistically
significant (p =0.41; see Table 5).
A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the potential
predictors, and the results are shown in Table 6. Univariate analysis
revealed that OS was significantly associated with RN (HR: 3.3, 95% CI:
1.1-9.8; p =0.03). In multivariate analysis, RN was an independent
negative prognostic factor for OS (HR: 6.3, 95% CI: 1.4-27.9;p =0.01).