Health-related quality of life among patients with colorectal und pancreatic cancer: results from a monocentric registry study.

Introduction: Colorectal and pancreatic cancers impose profound physical, psychological, and social challenges on patients, underscoring the need for comprehensive assessments of their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate HRQoL levels in colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, including the comparison to the general population and the assessment of sociodemographic as well as disease- and treatment-related predictors. Methods: The analyses are based on data from a clinical registry of the NCT/UCC Dresden. Patients were recruited during consultation hours between August 2020 and December 2024. Baseline quality of life data and routine data from the tumor documentation system were used. The final analytical sample comprised n=417 patients in the colorectal study group and n=193 patients in the pancreatic study group. Multivariable linear regression analyses were calculated, with results presented as regression coefficients (b) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients exhibited significantly lower HRQoL compared to the general population, with large differences in social function and medium differences in role function and global health. Pancreatic cancer patients reported lower HRQoL across most domains compared to colorectal cancer patients. In the colorectal study group, statutory health insurance (b=-14.10, CI=-22.54; -5.66), living in rural counties with some urbanization (b=-5.34, CI=-10.51; -0.17) and recent chemotherapy (b=-9.10, CI=-16.36; -1.85) predicted worse global health. With regard to pancreatic cancers, residence in rural counties with some urbanization (b=-10.26, CI=-18.93; -1.59) was associated with worse global health, whereas longer time since diagnosis (b=0.06, CI=0.01; 0.12) was associated with better global health. Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors were the most consistent predictors of HRQoL in patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancer. These findings suggest social disparities, particularly for patients in rural areas and those with lower socioeconomic status. Efforts to improve access to healthcare, provide psychosocial support, and manage symptom burden are critical to enhancing the quality of life for these patients.