title: Does marital status and altered contact with the social network predict colorectal cancer survival?
abstract: We examined whether changes in the frequency of contact with the social network (partner, children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends and colleagues) in a group of colorectal cancer patients were associated with survival. The study was based on a questionnaire survey from 1991. The study population consisted of 770 Danish colorectal cancer patients diagnosed in the period 1985-1990, and followed up for survival until March 2002. Using Cox regression analysis we found a significantly higher mortality among patients who had lost their partner before the operation compared to patients cohabiting with the same partner as before the operation (rate ratio (RR)=1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.8) possibly because of less active cancer treatment. This needs investigation in future studies. Contrary to expectations we also found a significantly higher mortality among patients reporting increased contact with their children compared to patients reporting unchanged contact frequency (RR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.4). However, a low physical functioning of the cancer patient may have confounded the latter result.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villingshøj
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Birthe Lykke
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D016019:Survival Analysis