The association between lifestyle-related risk factors and survival in patients with colorectal cancer in an urban South African cohort

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle-related factors have been linked with risk for colorectal cancer. Data describing the relationship between lifestyle factors of South African patients who present with colorectal cancer and their survival is sparse. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to describe the profile of patients with colorectal cancer; to determine the association between lifestyle-related factors and survival, and to compare results of patients in the private and public sectors. METHODS: A retrospective review and secondary analysis of information of patients with colorectal cancer were conducted. The independent samples t-test and Mann Whitney U test were administered to determine differences in the clinical presentation. Pearson's Chi-Squared and Eta (η) tests were used to determine the association between survival and lifestyle-related factors. RESULTS: Data of 441 patients were included. When compared to the public sector cohort, patients in the private sector cohort were older (p=0.0110), had earlier stages of cancer at the time of diagnosis (p<0.001), had a higher percentage of current alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and had higher survival rates (p<0.001). Waist circumference was shown to have a large-strength effect on survival (η2=0.266). CONCLUSION: Emphasis should be placed on anthropometric screening and education to effect long-term behaviour change. Physiotherapists are well placed to provide screening and non-pharmacological interventions for patients with colorectal cancer.