Cancer-Related Activity Limitations Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

To characterize self-reported cancer-related activity limitations among a broad population of head and neck (HNC) survivors and identify sociodemographic factors associated with these limitations.

Cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health Interview Survey.

The study population included individuals who completed the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 1997 to 2018 and self-reported a cancer diagnosis. Data regarding activity limitations, cancer history, mental health, and demographics were extracted from the NHIS. Poisson regression was used to evaluate associations between demographics and cancer-related limitations, and a descriptive analysis was performed to identify the most common types of cancer-related limitations experienced by HNC survivors.

Individuals with HNC were more than twice as likely to report having a disability caused by cancer when compared to individuals with other cancers (24% vs. 11%, P < .001). Cancer-related disability was highest among HNC survivors who were Black (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.13-2.18), were aged 50 to 64 (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.1-2.74), had high school or lower education (aPR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.07-5.37), and had Medicaid insurance (aPR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.62-4.10). Among HNC patients who reported a cancer-related limitation, the most common limitations included difficulty working (78%), going out (51%), and socializing (42%).

Cancer-related activity limitations are more common among HNC survivors compared to survivors of other cancers, and disproportionately affect socioeconomically disadvantaged HNC survivors. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations experienced by HNC survivors to provide counseling and resources to help patients cope with these limitations.

3 Laryngoscope, 132:593-599, 2022.