Abstract
BACKGROUND: Complete cytoreductive surgery with Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the standard treatment for patients with peritoneal metastases. In this retrospective observational two-center study, we assessed the impact of patient's body mass index (BMI) on surgical and oncological outcomes. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2021, 144 patients with peritoneal metastases (all etiologies) were included. Morbi-mortality at day-30, overall survival and free-recurrence-survival were compared according to the patients BMI. The patients were divided into 2 groups (BMI < 25, and BMI ≥ 25). RESULTS: Median overall survival (OS) was 71.3 months [63-71.5], with significant differences observed between BMI groups (p = 0.015). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) averaged 26.8 months [20-35.3] and did not significantly differ between groups (p = 0.267). After stratification by histology, OS and RFS remained consistent. Cox multivariate analysis adjusted for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI) revealed BMI < 25 (HR = 2.53 [1.10-5.80]) and male sex (HR = 2.34 [1.11-4.92]) as predictors of poorer OS. 30-Day complication rates did not significantly differ (p = 0.094). The BMI ≥ 25 group experienced higher rates of digestive fistulas (p = 0.05) and 90-day readmissions (p = 0.007), although reintervention rates were comparable (p = 0.723). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a potential 'obesity paradox' in the context of HIPEC procedures. Morbidity at day-30 was similar for BMI < 25, and BMI ≥ 25 patients. Readmissions at day-90 were more frequent in high-BMI group. BMI < 25 is deleteriously associated with mortality. BMI and sex were related to OS.