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. Copyright © 2008 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.