Table 1 Patient Clinical Characteristics at Baseline

Sex [n (%)]

 Male

196 (66.4)

150 (67.9)

 Female

99 (33.6)

71 (32.1)

Age: years

63.3 ± 10.7

64.4 ± 9.8

BMI: kg/m²

22.3 ± 3.0

22.4 ± 3.1

ASA classification

 I

151 (51.2)

97 (43.9)

 II

101 (34.2)

78 (35.3)

 III

43 (14.6)

46 (20.8)

Preoperative Hb: g/L

129.7 ± 11.4

131.6 ± 10.7

Preoperative Alb: g/L

34.8 ± 3.4

35.0 ± 3.5

Tumor location [n (%)]

 Upper rectum ^a

77 (26.1)

66 (29.9)

 Middle rectum ^b

133 (45.1)

101 (45.7)

 Lower rectum ^c

85 (28.8)

54 (24.4)

Neoadjuvant therapy ^d [n (%)]

65 (22.0)

46 (20.8)

Postoperative adjuvant treatment [n (%)]

89 (30.2)

71 (32.1)