Background and objective: Malnutrition is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in advanced colorectal cancer, and little is known about its relationship with quality of life (QoL). We investigated the relationship between nutritional status and QoL in colorectal cancer.
Methods: We examined a case series of 58 stage III-IV colorectal cancer patients treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Nutritional status was evaluated using laboratory measures of serum albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin, subjective global assessment (SGA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis. QoL was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30).
Results: The prevalence of malnutrition, as determined by SGA, was 41% (24 of 58). Well-nourished patients had statistically significantly better QoL scores on the global, physical, and role functions compared to malnourished patients. Interestingly, the median role function score in well-nourished patients was 41.6 points higher than the corresponding score in malnourished patients, indicating a "much better" functioning from a patient's perspective. Similarly, QoL scores on multiple symptom scales were statistically significantly better among well-nourished patients.
Conclusion: This study suggests that malnutrition is associated with poor QoL, as measured by the QLQ-C30 in colorectal cancer.