Predictive model estimating the decrease of postoperative gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) in patients...

Growing consideration in quality of life (QoL) has changed the therapeutic strategy in patients suffering from diverticular disease. Patients' well-being plays a crucial role in the decision-making process. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating patients' or surgery-related factors influencing the postoperative gastrointestinal function. The aim of this study was to investigate in a predictive model patients or surgical variables that allow better estimation of the postoperative gastrointestinal QoL.

This observational study retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis between 2004 and 2017. The one-time postoperative QoL was assessed with the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) in 2019. A linear regression model with stepwise selection has been applied to all patients and surgery-related variables.

Two hundred seventy-two patients with a mean age of 62.30 ± 9.74 years showed a mean GIQLI of 116.39±18.25 at a mean follow-up time of 90.4±33.65 months. Women (n=168) reported a lower GIQLI compared to male (n=104; 112.85±18.79 vs 122.11±15.81, p<0.001). Patients with pre-operative cardiovascular disease (n=17) had a worse GIQLI (106.65 ±22.58 vs 117.08±17.66, p=0.010). Finally, patients operated less than 5 years ago (n=63) showed a worse GIQLI compared to patients operated more than 5 years ago (n=209; 111.98±19.65 vs 117.71±17.63, p=0.014).

Female gender and the presence of pre-operative cardiovascular disease are predictive for a decreased postoperative gastrointestinal QoL. Furthermore, patients' estimation of gastrointestinal functioning seems to improve up to 5 years after surgery.