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Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer: An EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 Based Assessment
Jyoti Saini1, Jaimanti Bakshi1, Kiran Kumar2
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Background:
Head and neck cancer is among the most prevalent cancers in India that impart significant physical and psychological morbidity in patients. The physical symptoms and psychological stress tend to impair the quality of life (QoL) of patients, which in turn affects the survival outcomes.
Objective:
In the present study, we analyze the QoL of head and neck cancer patients using the EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 instrument so that an effective strategy to manage the QoL could be employed to improve treatment and survival outcomes.
Methodology:
Total 205 head and neck cancer patients were included in the study and Hindi version of EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 was used to assessed the QoL. We analyze the QoL according to the sociodemographic factors and clinical determinants. QoL was analyzed according to various scales and subscales of EORTC-QLQ-H&N35.
Results:
The mean global QoL score was 60.08 ± 19.06. QoL did not show any significant difference between the male (60.08 ± 19.06) and female (60.33 ± 19.31) gender. QoL was found to be significantly impaired at the advanced stages of the disease (56.02 ± 20.59). QoL was found to be significantly impaired in oral cancer patients (58.18 ± 19.70) compared to maxillary (66.66 ± 16.66) and larynx cancer (68.18 ± 13.41). In the context of the tumor site, QoL was most impaired in patients with tumors in the mandible region (38.88 ± 25.09). As per the addiction history among patients, the QoL does not show a significant difference among patients in terms of addiction history. Symptoms including nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea are most commonly found to affect the QoL. All of the other factors including pain, less sexuality, mouth opening, dry mouth, sticky saliva were also found to affect the QoL. A higher use of painkillers (74.1%) and nutritional supplements (63.4%) was also observed among patients.
Conclusion:
EORTC-QLQ-H&N35 is the most reliable instrument for assessing the QoL among head and neck cancer patients. The present study indicates that QoL was impaired significantly in head and neck cancer patients and needs to be addressed in treatment protocols.
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