title: Prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life in a homogeneous Mediterranean group of colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: This study was designed to prospectively evaluate health-related quality of life in a homogeneous Mediterranean group of colorectal cancer patients. Ninety-five colorectal cancer patients were preoperatively assessed and followed-up with by skilled investigators using the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire. Overall, patients showed deterioration in all domains, except for pain, when baseline values were compared with 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.0001). A significant improvement of all Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire domains was noted between 6 and 12 months (P = 0.0001). Scores for general health, pain, emotional well-being, and role limitations due to emotional problems at 1 year were shown better than preoperative (P < 0.001). Improved scores in role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems were found at baseline and at 1 year, when laparoscopic were compared with open resections (P < 0.05). Patients that received chemotherapy proved to be more vulnerable regarding their energy, social functioning, and role limitations at 3 months (P < 0.05), whereas older patients had diminished physical functioning at 3 and 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05) postoperatively. Greek colorectal cancer patients remain fragile up to 6 months after surgery, with significant improvements at 1 year, whereas certain aspects of health-related quality of life at 1 year may be even better than before surgery.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Athens Medical School, Hippocration University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
authors.forename: Joanna G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Papailiou
authors.forename: Paraskevas L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Stamopoulos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Golemati
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsamis
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.forename: Nikolaos V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Michalopoulos
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leandros
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome