How malnutrition affects quality of life outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer poses a serious health threat and its aetiology is chiefly through being genetically predisposed, obesity and inappropriate dietary habits. The study aim was to evaluate patients’ quality of life for those suffering this disease. A nutritional assessment was performed on a study group of 60 patients undergoing treatment for colorectal cancer according to chosen anthropometric and biochemical parameters from medical histories. Subjects were also surveyed by questionnaire to further determine nutritional status and quality of life. Patients were found to have excess body mass but a previously average BMI, the study group BMI being on average 32.2. Mean weight loss over the first 6 months since diagnosis and treatment was 22%. In a sub-group of patients that had correct body muscle tissue content, the mean weight loss was lower at 13% compared to those with reduced body muscle tissue content, who showed a weight loss of 21%. Nutritional status is vital in predicting outcomes in cancer patients, where its stability is correlated with rates of both septic complications and post-surgical healing. Indeed, a patient’s quality of life is significantly associated with nutritional status. Our results showed that a low quality of life was mainly due the duration of illness as well as a deteriorating nutritional status accompanying the progression of disease. Both quality of life and nutritional status should therefore be systematically monitored to reduce nutritional complications that increase patient mortality risk.