Health-Related Quality of Life After Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Longitudinal Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Abuja

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an increasingly recognized patient-centered outcome in oncological surgery, capturing the multidimensional impact of cancer treatment beyond traditional clinical measures. This longitudinal study examines HRQoL trajectories among colorectal cancer patients following surgery at a tertiary hospital in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, North Central Nigeria, from 2020 to 2023. Ninety patients were enrolled preoperatively and followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. HRQoL was measured using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR38 questionnaires. Functional status, symptom burden, and global health scores were tracked longitudinally. Social functioning and role functioning showed the greatest declines at 3 months, with partial recovery by 12 months. Stoma formation was associated with persistently lower body image scores throughout follow-up. Chemotherapy recipients reported significantly worse fatigue and nausea scores at 6 months. Older patients and those with higher educational attainment had more favorable HRQoL trajectories. The study highlights the importance of stoma care, psychological support, and social rehabilitation programs for colorectal cancer survivors in North Central Nigeria. Integration of HRQoL measurement into routine surgical oncology follow-up is recommended as a quality indicator at tertiary institutions. Keywords: health-related quality of life, colorectal cancer, EORTC, stoma, Abuja