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Lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the association between a postdiagnosis lifestyle score and health-related quality of life (HrQol) in long-term colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1,389 long-term CRC survivors in Northern Germany was analyzed. On average 7.2 years after CRC diagnosis, HrQol was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30, and lifestyle factors, including weight, height, diet, physical activity, and smoking were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. A lifestyle score (BMI <30 kg/m², healthy diet, recreationally active, and not smoking) was applied. Participants were categorized in adhering to at most one, two, three, or all recommended lifestyle factors, categorizing unfavorable behaviors with 0 and favorable with 1 point. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between the lifestyle score and HrQol as a binary variable.

Results

Approximately 10 % had at most one, 30 % two, 38 % three, and 23 % all favorable factors. Compared to participants with one or zero factors, the odds ratio (OR) for a low global HrQol (gHrQol) decreased with stronger adherence to the score. The OR (95% CI) for a low gHrQol was 0.50 (0.33–0.76) for participants with all favorable lifestyle factors compared to participants with one or zero. Clinical and socio-demographic factors had little impact on these associations, with exception of living arrangement which showed a statistically significant interaction. Associations were stronger for functioning domains, representing mobility rather than mental health.

Conclusions

Favorable lifestyle behaviors might be associated with HrQol in CRC long-term survivors. More research in prospective studies is needed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Kathrin Dümichen and Lukas Tittmann for data collection and management and all participants for their contribution to the study. Sabrina Schlesinger was funded by a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG Excellence Cluster Inflammation at Interfaces EXC306 and EXC306/2). PopGen 2.0 network is supported by a grant from the German Ministry for Education and Research (01EY1103).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Epidemiology, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Campus Kiel, UKSH, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 1, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Sabrina Schlesinger

  2. Section of Epidemiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, Haus 1, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Sabrina Schlesinger & Ute Nöthlings

  3. Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, Haus 18, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jessica Walter, Witigo von Schönfels, Sebastian Hinz & Clemens Schafmayer

  4. Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jochen Hampe

  5. Reference Center Quality of Life in Oncology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus 18, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Thomas Küchler

  6. PopGen Biobank, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, Haus 1, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Gunnar Jacobs

  7. Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Nutritional and Food Science, University Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Ute Nöthlings

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  1. Sabrina Schlesinger
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  2. Jessica Walter
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Correspondence to Sabrina Schlesinger.

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Schlesinger, S., Walter, J., Hampe, J. et al. Lifestyle factors and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors. Cancer Causes Control 25, 99–110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0313-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-013-0313-y

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