Abstract 47: Prevalence and Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients in Pakistan

Abstract Purpose: Quality of life (QoL), a critical outcome for cancer patients, is influenced by socioeconomic and clinical factors. This study evaluates QoL among gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients at three tertiary care hospitals in Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over six months at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College (JPMC), and Cancer Foundation Hospital (CFH). Adult patients with GI cancers at any stage were recruited from outpatient clinics. Data collection involved chart reviews and patient interviews conducted by trained data collectors. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used to evaluate QoL. Descriptive statistics were reported and multivariate generalized linear regression analyses identified independent factors associated with QoL. Results: Of 369 patients, 44.7% were from AKUH, 33.6% from JPMC, and 21.7% from CFH, with a mean age of 50.5±14.4 years. Males comprised 62.3%, and 8.4% had health insurance. The median International Wealth Index (IWI) score was 79.6 (IQR: 57.1-95.1). The mean Global Health Status/QoL score was 51.8±18.4. Functional domain scores highlighted strong physical (75.7±27.4) and cognitive functioning (91.8 ± 16.9), while emotional and social functioning scores were relatively lower (71.1±28.6 and 71.3±29.6, respectively). The mean QLQ-C30 summary score (QCSS) was 77.9±16.5. Employment status significantly influenced QoL (p<0.001), with full-time employed patients reporting higher scores (84.9±14.1) compared to unemployed individuals (68.4±19.1). ECOG performance status (p<0.001) and financial toxicity (FT) measured via the COST tool (p<0.001) were also strongly associated with QoL. Multivariable regression revealed that older age, full-time employment, higher IWI, unrestricted physical activity, and absence of stoma were significantly associated with better QoL (CI 95%; p<0.05). Conclusion: Socioeconomic status, financial toxicity, employment status, physical activity, and cancer stage significantly influence QoL among gastrointestinal cancer patients in Karachi. Targeted interventions such as integrating financial counseling, patient-centric care, and support programs for high- risk patients are urgently needed to improve QoL outcomes in this population. Citation Format: M. Tayyab H. Siddiqui, Sehar S. Virani, Fatima Shaukat, Asfia A. Khursheed, Lubna Saleem, Abid Jamal, Juliet S. Lumati, M. Rizwan Khan, S. Nabeel Zafar. Prevalence and Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients in Pakistan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; 2025 Sep 16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 47.