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Quality of life in M alaysian colorectal cancer patients
Author(s) -
Wan Puteh Sharifa Ezat,
Saad Natrah Mohd.,
Aljunid Syed Mohd,
Abdul Manaf Mohd Rizal,
Sulong Saperi,
Sagap Ismail,
Ismail Fuad,
Muhammad Annuar Muhd Azrif
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12055
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , colorectal cancer , incidence (geometry) , disease , stage (stratigraphy) , diarrhea , cancer , paleontology , physics , nursing , optics , biology
The rapidly increasing of incidence colorectal cancer ( CRC ) in M alaysia and the introduction of new treatments that prolong survival advocating treatment outcome measures such as patients' quality of life ( QOL ) are evaluated in this study. The study aims to determine QOL in CRC patients according to cancer stage and age. Methods A cross‐sectional study was performed from J une to D ecember 2011 at four public tertiary hospitals. The European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer ( EORTC ) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core‐30 ( EORTC QLQ C ‐30) questionnaire was used through face‐to‐face interview and the medical records of 160 respondents were reviewed. Results The mean age of respondents was 58.47 ± 12.04 years with 57.5% of respondents being male and 42.5% female. The majority of respondents were in CRC stages III and IV . Median global health status ( GHS ) score was 83.33 ( IQR 16.67). Sikhs and Indians had a higher median GHS score compared to other ethnicities (Kruskal–Wallis, χ 2 = 12.12, p = 0.007). Emotional, cognitive and social functions were higher in respondents with earlier stage of disease (Kruskal‐Wallis, χ2 = 6.06, 6.36, 10.58, p = 0.048, 0.042, 0.005). Median pain, dyspnea, diarrhea and financial implication scores were significantly higher in advanced stage of disease (Kruskal‐Wallis, χ 2 = 9.31, 6.26,6.77, 7.28, p = 0.010, 0.044,0.034,0.026). Median diarrhea score (p = 0.012) was significantly different between age groups. Discussion Emotional, cognitive and social functions deteriorate with advanced stage of disease. Patients with advanced stage disease experience more pain, dyspnea, diarrhea and financial implications. A systematic screening program to detect cases as early as possible is essential nationwide.