Long-Term Nutritional Outcome and Health Related Quality of Life of Patients Following Esophageal Cancer Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

Long term health related quality of life (HRQL) and nutritional outcome of patients following esophagectomy for cancer has become increasingly significant as the 5-year survival rate in this patient group is increasing. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the HRQOL, nutritional impact symptoms and nutritional outcomes of patients following an esophagectomy at greater than 12 months after surgery. In studies reporting on HRQL as an outcome, global QOL score at 6-month compare to greater than 12-month showed no statistically significant difference (65.92 vs. 75.78, p = 0.07). Forty-one percent of patients reported a greater than 10% weight loss at six-month follow-up (95% CI: 20-65%; I2 = 94.27, p < 0.001), and at the greater than 12-month follow-up, 33% of patients had the greater than 10% weight loss (95% CI: 15-57%; I2 = 96.18, p < 0.001). At the 12-month or longer post esophagectomy, just over half the patients reported dysphagia (51%, 95% CI: 25-76%; I2 = 95.70, p < 0.001), nausea was reported by 11% (95% CI: 7-19%; I2 = 59.31, p = 0.09), dumping syndrome reported by 60% (95% CI: 43-76%; I2 = 96.92, p < 0.001). Symptoms such as dysphagia, diarrhea, reflux, dumping syndrome, and nausea were found to persist following esophagectomy. There were insufficient robust research investigating how these symptoms impact on the adequacy of dietary intake and micronutrient status.