Quality of life and financial impacts of permanent colostomy for rectal cancer

Introduction: Returning to work is an important cancer recovery milestone. Permanent colostomy can be required for rectal cancer treatment and can significantly impact well-being. We aimed to evaluate the impact of permanent colostomy on health-related quality of life and return to work in patients with rectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study on 23 employed patients receiving curative surgery for rectal cancer requiring permanent colostomy. Demographic and health-related quality-of-life questionnaires (the Colostomy Impact Score (CIS), the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30, and the EORTC QLQ-CR29) were posted to eligible patients. Results: On average, patients (10 female, 13 male, mean age 61.8 years) were 5.0 ± 3.5 years post-surgery. At the time of questioning, 73.9% had returned to work (21.7% changed their type of work), while 17.4% never returned to work. Of those that returned to work, 11.8% returned within 1 month of surgery, while 23.5% had not returned after 12 months. Comparison of CIS between patients that returned to the same work (14.6 ± 0.93), changed their work (13.0 ± 0.74), and did not return to work (14.3 ± 2.3) revealed no significant differences (p = 0.36). CIS did not correlate with days worked on return, or time to return to work (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Returning to work following rectal cancer treatment with permanent colostomy is challenging, with 17.4% never returning to work. Of those who returned to work, 23.5% required more than 12 months. This was not associated with CIS in our study. (AU)

C-reactive protein and body mass index in children: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration and body mass index (BMI) in children. STUDY DESIGN: With the use of data from 5305 children aged 6 to 18 years in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988 to 1994), a cross-sectional health survey, we examined whether CRP concentrations were elevated among overweight children. RESULTS: Among children whose BMI was below the age- and sex-specific 15th percentile, 6.6% of boys and 10.7% of girls had an elevated CRP concentration (>2.1 mg/L) compared with 24.2% of boys and 31.9% of girls whose BMI was > or =95th percentile. After adjustment was done for age, sex, race or ethnicity, poverty income ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, white blood cell count, and history of chronic bronchitis, the adjusted odds of having an elevated CRP concentration were 2.20 (95% CI 1.30, 3.75) for children with a BMI of 85th to <95th percentile and 4.92 (95% CI 3.39, 7.15) for children with a BMI of > or =95th percentile compared with children who had a BMI of 15th to <85th percentile. The associations did not differ significantly by age, sex, or race or ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: In a large representative sample of US children, CRP concentration was significantly elevated among children with a BMI > or=85th percentile, thus confirming previous findings of this association in children and extending previous research in adults to children. Excess body weight may be associated with a state of chronic low-grade inflammation in children.