Exploring the relationship between age and prognosis in glioma: rethinking current age stratification

Abstract Background The age of glioma plays a unique role in prognosis. We hypothesized that age is not positively correlated with survival prognosis and explored its exact relationship. Methods Glioma was identified from the SEER database (between 2000 and 2018). A multivariate Cox proportional regression model and restricted cubic spline (RCS) plot were used to assess the relationship between age and prognosis. Results A total of 66465 patients with glioma were included. Hazard ratios (HR) for ten-year by age: 0–9 years, HR 1.06 (0.93–1.20); 10–19 years: reference; 20–29 years, HR 0.90 (0.82–1.00); 30–39 years, HR 1.14 (1.04–1.25); 40–49 years, HR 2.09 (1.91–2.28); 50–59 years, HR 3.48 (3.19–3.79); 60–69 years, HR 4.91 (4.51–5.35);70–79 years, HR 7.95 (7.29–8.66); 80–84 years, HR 12.85 (11.74–14.06). After adjusting for covariates, the prognosis was not positively correlated with age. The smooth curve of RCS revealed this non-linear relationship: HR increased to 10 years first, decreased to 23 years, reached its lowest point, and became J-shaped. Conclusion The relationship between age and glioma prognosis is non-linear. These results challenge the applicability of current age groupings for gliomas and advocate the consideration of individualized treatment guided by precise age.