Background: Evidence has shown that colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, especially women have a lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study aimed to assess the QOL of CRC survivors as well as gender-related differences in the QOL of CRC patients in Northwest of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in East Azarbijaban. All patients aged ≥18 years, and diagnosed with CRC regardless of its stage and plans for treatment, and also referred to teaching hospitals within a two years' time frame of 2014-2016, were included in this study. The Persian version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was completed for each patient by two trained interviewers. Student t-test and χ 2 test were used to analyze Gender differences among patients, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, as well as the scores of QLQ-C30 dimensions. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between the score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and gender. Results: Overall 303 patients (167 male, 136 female) with a diagnosis of CRC were included in the study. The mean age of participants was 58.16±13.58 years. The mean scores of physical (b=−14.80, P=0.001) and social functioning (b=−9.14, P=0.038) of women with CRC were more negatively affected than men with CRC. In addition, women had a higher mean score in pain (b=10.74, P=0.022) and fatigue (b=12.53, P=0.007) symptom subscales in comparison to men. Based on the results of multivariate linear regression analysis, gender, occupation, and adjuvant therapy can be considered as the independent and strong predictor factors of functional scale in our CRC patients. Conclusions: Women appear to be more affected than men by impaired physical and social functioning after the development of cancer, and they reported more fatigue and pain than men. Therefore, it might be advisable to consider strategies to improve the HRQOL in women.

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Aim:The objective of this study was to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and its correlates among rectal cancer survivors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the northwest of Iran. Rectal cancer survivors were selected from teaching hospitals. HRQOL was estimated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire C30. Information about sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical features of disease was obtained by trained interviewers. Results: A total of 96 patients were included in this study with mean age of 57.31 ± 14.15 years, 54% were male and 59% over 55 years of age. Women performed poorer than men in many dimensions of HRQOL (P < 0.05). Total score of symptoms was higher in those who had a higher stage of the disease. Participants with insufficient physical activity had a lower score in physical and role dimensions and a higher score of pain and fatigue (P < 0.05). In multiple regression models, treatment, stage of disease, and physical activity were important predictive factors of HRQOL. Conclusion: Some clinico-epidemiological factors were associated with a reduced score of HRQOL and its dimensions in this study. Overall, better performance in the presence of a modifiable factor; physical activity, is an opportunity for interventional strategies to improve the HRQOL. Key words:Health, quality of life, rectal cancer, treatment, socioeconomic status ABSTRACTArticle history: