Does marital status and altered contact with the social network predict colorectal cancer survival?

We examined whether changes in the frequency of contact with the social network (partner, children, grandchildren, other relatives, friends and colleagues) in a group of colorectal cancer patients were associated with survival. The study was based on a questionnaire survey from 1991. The study population consisted of 770 Danish colorectal cancer patients diagnosed in the period 1985-1990, and followed up for survival until March 2002. Using Cox regression analysis we found a significantly higher mortality among patients who had lost their partner before the operation compared to patients cohabiting with the same partner as before the operation (rate ratio (RR)=1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.8) possibly because of less active cancer treatment. This needs investigation in future studies. Contrary to expectations we also found a significantly higher mortality among patients reporting increased contact with their children compared to patients reporting unchanged contact frequency (RR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.4). However, a low physical functioning of the cancer patient may have confounded the latter result.