Background: Studies on the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk using single food or nutrient approach are widely conducted as opposed to dietary pattern approach. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the major dietary patterns and their association with CRC risk among Malaysians. Methods: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years old from two teaching hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia were recruited through purposive sampling. Socio-demographic information and anthropometry data were assessed before the colonoscopy procedure, and dietary intake was also recorded using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cases were those patients having histopathologically proven CRC, while controls were those without. Results: Four major dietary patterns were identified: the allergenic diet, plant-based diet, processed diet, and energy-dense diet pattern. After adjusting for potential covariates, the processed diet pattern was consistently associated with CRC (OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.25–9.52; P = 0.017) while the plant-based diet, energy-dense diet, and allergenic diet were not associated with CRC risk. Conclusions: The processed diet pattern attributed to a diet high in confectionaries and fast foods was associated with an increased risk of CRC in the Malaysian population. In order to give prevention measures through lifestyle change, more research could be done on the effect of food patterns on faecal microbiota associated with CRC.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a crucial outcome measure in cancer care. This study aimed to identify predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Malaysia. Methods: The study was conducted from January 2021 to July 2022, recruiting CRC patients from two teaching hospitals in Malaysia. The validated Malay versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires assessed physical, psychological, and social functioning. Patients were evaluated at 6 months post-treatment to determine QoL predictors. Results: Among 87 CRC patients (55.2% male, mean age 59.8±11.8 years), 37.9% had stage III disease and 13.8% had stage IV. Most patients (93%) underwent surgery and 78% received chemotherapy. The mean Global Health Status score was 66.57±20.75. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (p = 0.03), advanced cancer stage (p = 0.017), lower body weight (p = 0.017), and reduced hip circumference (p = 0.040) significantly predicted poorer QoL. Nutritional parameters specifically predicted functional domains: lower body weight and BMI predicted role and cognitive function, while lower hip circumference predicted emotional function. Conclusions: Advanced age, disease stage, and nutritional status are significant predictors of QoL in Malaysian CRC patients. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional assessment and intervention in CRC survivorship care to optimize patient outcomes.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is a crucial outcome measure in cancer care. This study aimed to identify the association of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Malaysia. Methods: The study was conducted from January 2021 to July 2022, recruiting CRC patients from two teaching hospitals in Malaysia. The validated Malay versions of EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires assessed physical, psychological, and social functioning. Patients were evaluated 6 months after diagnosis to determine QoL associations. Anthropometric measurements were recorded at baseline (diagnosis, 0 months) and at follow-up (6 months). Results: Among 87 CRC patients (55.2% male, mean age 59.8 ± 11.8 years), 37.9% had stage III disease and 13.8% had stage IV. Most patients (93%) underwent surgery and 78% received chemotherapy. The mean global health status score was 66.57 ± 20.75. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that older age (p = 0.03), advanced cancer stage (p = 0.017), lower body weight (p = 0.017), and reduced hip circumference (p = 0.040) are significantly associated with poorer global health status quality of life (GHS QoL). Nutritional parameters specifically predicted functional domains: lower body weight and BMI predicted role and cognitive function, while lower hip circumference predicted emotional function. Conclusions: Advanced age, disease stage, and nutritional status are significant associations of QoL in Malaysian CRC patients. These findings highlight the importance of nutritional assessment and intervention in CRC survivorship care to optimize patient outcomes.