Nutritional Risk and Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

This study aimed to investigate nutritional risk, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) and the interaction of these factors in colorectal cancer patients. Methods: Participants were colorectal cancer patients receiving follow-up treatment at the colorectal cancer outpatient clinic of Severance Hospital in Seoul. Participants were recruited from October 25 to November 30, 2010. The survey questionnaire consisted of Nutritional Risk Score (NRS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-scales for Colorectal Cancer (FACT-C). Results: NRSs were significantly higher in patients with low BMI (F=18.63, p<.001) and those who were underwent colorectal surgery within 1 month (F=5.96, p<.001). Physical activity level of the participants was 28.96METs. Lower nutritional risk was associated with a higher QoL (r=-.34, p<.001). In a multiple regression analysis, the predictors of QoL were the age, economic status, and nutritional risk of the patient (R-2=40.0%). Conclusions: Targeted tailored nursing interventions are needed to assess nutritional risks in order to improve colorectal cancer patients' QoL.