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Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Disease-Free Survivors of Mid-Low Rectal Cancer After Curative Surgery

  • Healthcare Policy and Outcomes
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Abstract

Background

The main objective of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in terms of symptoms and functional outcomes in disease-free survivors of rectal cancer.

Methods

Consecutive patients (n = 117) who underwent curative surgery for rectal cancer with a minimum of 2 years’ follow-up and whose disease had not recurred were asked to complete the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and its colorectal cancer module (QLQ-CR38). Long-term HRQOL outcomes were compared with reference data from the general population. Relevant clinical data including type of surgery, stage of disease, type of treatment, and early and late complications were collected. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to investigate associations among covariates.

Results

HRQOL functional aspects were similar with that of an age- and sex-matched general population. Although clinically meaningful better outcomes favoring our patients were found for the global health status/HRQOL and the pain scales, constipation was worse in rectal cancer survivors than the general population. Multivariate analysis found that worse physical functioning was associated with increasing age (P < .001), female sex (P < .01), presence of stoma (P < .05), and occurrence of late major complications (P < .05). Worse body image was associated with the presence of stoma (P < .001) and chemoradiotherapy (P < .05).

Conclusion

Overall, patients with rectal cancer recover well in the long run, with HRQOL levels comparable to that of the general population. HRQOL outcomes provide valuable data that may be used to improve information disclosure to patients.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by a grant from the University of Padova (Progetto di Ateneo 2003). The authors thank Marina Canapero for her assistance with English-language revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, Section of Clinica Chirurgica II, University of Padova, Policlinico, VI piano, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padova, Italy

    Salvatore Pucciarelli MD, Paola Toppan MD, Samantha Serpentini MSc & Donato Nitti MD

  2. Servizio Sperimentazioni Cliniche e Biostatistica, Istituto Oncologico Veneto—IRCCS, Padova, Italy

    Paola Del Bianco MSc & Gian Luca De Salvo MD

  3. Italian Group for Adult Hematologic Diseases (GIMEMA) Data Center, Health Outcome Research Unit, Rome, Italy

    Fabio Efficace MSc

  4. Medical Oncology Department, Istituto Oncologico Veneto—IRCCS, Padova, Italy

    Lara Maria Pasetto MD

  5. Radiation Oncology Department, Istituto Oncologico Veneto—IRCCS, Padova, Italy

    Maria Luisa Friso MD

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  1. Salvatore Pucciarelli MD
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  2. Paola Del Bianco MSc
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  3. Paola Toppan MD
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  4. Samantha Serpentini MSc
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  6. Lara Maria Pasetto MD
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  7. Maria Luisa Friso MD
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  8. Gian Luca De Salvo MD
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  9. Donato Nitti MD
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Correspondence to Salvatore Pucciarelli MD.

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Pucciarelli, S., Del Bianco, P., Toppan, P. et al. Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Disease-Free Survivors of Mid-Low Rectal Cancer After Curative Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol 15, 1846–1854 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-9923-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-008-9923-0

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