We aimed to clarify the influence of nutritional problems after surgery for oesophageal cancer on functional health related quality of life (HRQOL) and survival. A prospective nationwide cohort of oesophageal cancer patients operated 2001⁻2005 in Sweden with 6 months postoperative follow up was used. Nutritional problems were categorized as low/moderate/severe/very severe based on weight loss and nutrition impact symptoms. An ANCOVA model calculated mean score differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of global quality of life (QOL), social and physical function scores, stratified by preoperative body mass index (BMI) <25 and ≥25. A Cox proportional hazards model produced hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CI for overall 5-year survival. Of 358 patients, 196 (55%) had preoperative BMI ≥25. Very severe and severe nutritional problems were associated with worse HRQOL in both BMI groups. E.g. MD's for global QOL among 'very severe' group was -29 (95% CI -39⁻-19) and -20 (95% CI -29⁻-11) for <25 and ≥25 BMI, respectively, compared to the 'low' group. Overall 5-year survival among 'very severe' and BMI ≥ 25 was worse; HR 4.6 (95% CI 1.4⁻15.6). Intense nutritional problems negatively impact postoperative HRQOL and combined with preoperative BMI ≥ 25 are associated with poorer 5-year overall survival representing a group needing greater clinical attention.
Keywords: nutrition impact symptoms; oesophageal neoplasms; oesophagectomy; quality of life; survival.