Five-year follow-up mortality prognostic index for colorectal patients

PurposeTo identify 5-year survival prognostic variables in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and to propose a survival prognostic score that also takes into account changes over time in the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) status.MethodsProspective observational cohort study of CRC patients. We collected data from their diagnosis, intervention, and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years following the index intervention, also collecting HRQoL data using the EuroQol-5D-5L (EQ-5D-5L), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer's Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Multivariate Cox proportional models were used.ResultsWe found predictors of mortality over the 5-year follow-up to be being older; being male; having a higher TNM stage; having a higher lymph node ratio; having a result of CRC surgery classified as R1 or R2; invasion of neighboring organs; having a higher score on the Charlson comorbidity index; having an ASA IV; and having worse scores, worse quality of life, on the EORTC and EQ-5D questionnaires, as compared to those with higher scores in each of those questionnaires respectively.ConclusionsThese results allow preventive and controlling measures to be established on long-term follow-up of these patients, based on a few easily measurable variables.Implications for cancer survivorsPatients with colorectal cancer should be monitored more closely depending on the severity of their disease and comorbidities as well as the perceived health-related quality of life, and preventive measures should be established to prevent adverse outcomes and therefore to ensure that better treatment is received.

Automated summary

The study aims to identify prognostic variables for 5-year survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and propose a survival prognostic score that considers changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over time. Data was collected from CRC patients through a prospective observational cohort study, including diagnosis, intervention, and follow-up at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. HRQoL data was assessed using EQ-5D-5L, EORTC-QLQ-C30, and HADS questionnaires. Multivariate Cox proportional models were used for analysis. The results identified several predictors of mortality over the 5-year follow-up period. These findings provide insights for establishing preventive and controlling measures for long-term follow-up of CRC patients based on easily measurable variables.