Clinical and non-clinical factors influencing postoperative health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: The aim was prospectively to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after treatment of potentially curable colorectal cancer. METHODS: HRQoL measurements were acquired by postal questionnaire sent to 210 patients with colorectal cancer for whom there was at least of 1 year of follow-up. Data were collected at seven time points using two validated questionnaires, QLQ-C30/CR38 and Short Form 12. Scores from salient HRQoL domains were compared with population norms. The independent associations between HRQoL and 13 treatment and non-treatment variables were evaluated using linear regression. Recurrences were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients (88.6 per cent) were followed up for 1 year, with 136 (64.8 per cent) and 84 (40.0 per cent) reaching the 18-month and 2-year follow-up points respectively. HRQoL improved rapidly after surgery, with most scores equating to population norms by 3-6 months. In addition to baseline performance status, three factors were associated with significantly poorer HRQoL scores: age less than 65 years, low rectal anastomoses and presence of a stoma. The areas predominantly affected were normal daily routines, work and social activities. CONCLUSION: HRQoL largely recovered by 6 months in disease-free patients, but some subgroups had poorer scores than others.