Health Related Quality of Life in Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer : Correlates and Comparisons to Normative Data

• The aim was to describe self-reported HRQoL in patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)  and to investigate the associations to stage of disease, age, gender, weight loss and performance status. Further, the study aimed to compare patients’ health related quality of life with that of the Swedish general population. Data on HRQoL were collected within a multi-centre randomised controlled trial. A total of 334 patients were included between 1998 and 2001. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13 were used to assess HRQoL. HRQoL data for comparison with the Swedish population were derived from a random sample of the Swedish population. Patients reported a markedly impaired HRQoL compared to the normal population. There were statistically and clinically significant differences with regard to almost all QLQ-C30 functional and symptom scales. Global Health Status, Physical Functioning, Role Functioning and Emotional Functioning were markedly deteriorated. The most prominent symptoms were Dyspnoea, Fatigue, Coughing, Insomnia, Appetite Loss and Pain. A low performance status, younger age, female gender and a more advanced disease were independently associated with a worse HRQoL. Additional studies are required to gain increased insight into this seriously ill group of patients and their need of supportive care.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

lung cancer

health related quality of life

Oncology

Onkologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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