Patient personality predicts postoperative stay after colorectal cancer resection

Postoperative length of stay (LOS) is an important outcome after colorectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the putative effects of personality, mood, coping and quality of life on LOS.

A consecutive series of 110 eligible patients undergoing elective resection for colorectal cancer were invited to participate in the study. A battery of psychometric questionnaires including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (colorectal), the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, the Positive and Negative Affectivity Scale and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were administered 5-12 days before surgery. Nonparametric correlations were computed for psychometric scores, demographic variables and the LOS. Factors found to be significantly correlated on this analysis were entered into a multiple regression model to determine the independent predictors of LOS.

One hundred and four patients with colorectal cancer participated. Seventy were male (67%) and the mean age was 68 years (range 39-86). The median LOS was 10 days (range 4-108). LOS was negatively correlated with pre- and postoperative albumin levels, PANAS +ve affect, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire with the colorectal module functional well-being score and EPQ extroversion score. LOS was strongly positively correlated with postoperative morbidity. LOS was positively correlated with CECS anger score, age and being male. Postoperative morbidity (beta = 0.379, P = 0.007) and extroversion (beta = -0.318, P = 0.05) were independent predictors of LOS.

Personality as measured by EPQ predicts postoperative LOS in patients with colorectal cancer. Extroverts have a higher pain threshold and this may be part of the explanation.