ONS did not significantly change mean QoL scores at the group level but increased the proportion of patients achieving clinically meaningful improvement, particularly in the physical and emotional domains.
Key Findings
Results
Mean FAACT scores did not differ significantly between the intervention and control groups over 12 weeks.
Mean FAACT score was 101.0 ± 22.8 (95% CI: 94.6–107.4) in the intervention group vs. 105.1 ± 21.4 (95% CI: 99.1–111.1) in the control group (p = 0.06).
The observed difference corresponded to an effect size at the lower bound of the moderate range.
The study enrolled 72 patients with stage II–IV CRC (40 intervention group, 32 control group).
The intervention group received ONS (2 × 125 mL/day, 600 kcal, 36 g protein) for 12 weeks; the control group received dietary counseling only.
Results
Clinically meaningful improvement in global FAACT score was significantly more frequent in the intervention group than in the control group.
MID analysis showed clinically meaningful improvement in global FAACT in 32% of the intervention group vs. 8% of the control group (p = 0.03).
The odds ratio for global FAACT improvement was OR = 5.50 (95% CI: 1.10–27.62), with φ = 0.29.
Minimally important difference (MID) analysis was used to determine clinical meaningfulness of change.
Results
Clinically meaningful improvement in physical well-being was significantly more frequent in the intervention group than in the control group.
Physical well-being improvement occurred in 32% of the intervention group vs. 8% of the control group (p = 0.03).
OR = 5.50 (95% CI: 1.10–27.62), φ = 0.29.
Results
Clinically meaningful improvement in emotional well-being was significantly more frequent in the intervention group than in the control group.
Emotional well-being improvement occurred in 38% of the intervention group vs. 4% of the control group (p = 0.002).
OR = 14.86 (95% CI: 1.79–123.36), φ = 0.40, representing the largest effect size among the domains examined.
Results
Functional well-being and anorexia/cachexia subscale scores showed favorable but nonsignificant trends favoring the intervention group.
Functional well-being improvement occurred in 29% of the intervention group vs. 8% of the control group (p = 0.05, OR = 4.79, 95% CI: 0.95–24.27, φ = 0.26).
Anorexia/cachexia subscale deterioration occurred in 3% of the intervention group vs. 20% of the control group (p = 0.07, OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01–1.11, φ = 0.28).
Neither result reached conventional statistical significance (p < 0.05).
Results
HRQoL correlated positively with nutritional status, appetite, and functional performance.
Positive correlations were observed between FAACT scores and nutritional status as assessed by SGA and NRS-2002.
Appetite as measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and BMI were also positively associated with HRQoL.
Karnofsky performance scores remained stable in both groups over the 12-week study period.
Methods
The study population consisted of colorectal cancer patients with anorexia-cachexia syndrome who were eligible for oral nutritional supplementation and undergoing chemotherapy.
72 patients with stage II–IV CRC were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study.
HRQoL was assessed every 4 weeks using the FAACT (version 4.0) questionnaire.
Nutritional status was assessed using SGA, NRS-2002, and BMI; appetite was assessed on a VAS.
The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02848807).
Ziętarska M, Małgorzewicz S. (2026). Quality of Life of Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020191