Beyond the LARS score: functional burden does not necessarily equal psychological burden

Ammer et al. reported no significant difference in low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) between open and robotic rectal cancer surgery. This commentary addresses the interindividual variability in LARS outcomes.

This conceptual commentary critically reviews the outcome assessment strategy used in the original study and integrates supporting evidence from the psycho-oncology literature.

Functional burden, as captured by the LARS score, does not necessarily equal psychological burden. Psychological adaptation-resilience, coping style, distress, and illness perception-is hypothesised to mediate the relationship between functional impairment and patient-reported quality of life.

Functional burden and psychological burden are related but distinct constructs. Future studies should test mediation and moderation models to determine whether psychological adaptation explains the variability between LARS severity and quality of life.