Dataset Information

Gender effects on quality of life and symptom burden in patients with lung cancer: results from a prospective, cross-cultural, multi-center study.

ABSTRACT: Background:Lung cancer causes impairment of health-related quality of life (QoL), but little is known about gender aspects in QoL and symptom burden of lung cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in QoL as assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the updated lung cancer module. Methods:In a prospective, international, cross-cultural, multicenter study that was undertaken to update the lung cancer-specific module EORTC QLQ-LC13, patients filled in the core questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 and the updated lung cancer module. Gender differences were calculated for all QoL scores using ANCOVAs that controlled for known and suspected confounders. Comparisons with historic data were drawn. Results:A total of 200 patients (82 female and 118 male, median age 65 years) were recruited. With the exception of coughing (estimated marginal means: women 33.86 and men 43.52, P=0.022) and diarrhea (estimated marginal means: women 26.01 and men 17.93, P=0.038) there were no significant QoL gender differences. Fatigue was the most pronounced symptom in both, men and women, outpacing typical respiratory symptoms. Quite generally, our sample of lung cancer patients showed considerably worse QoL in all scores when compared to EORTC reference data (lung cancer and combined cancer diagnoses, mean differences up to 13.70 and 21.54 score points, respectively) and to a German norm reference sample (up to 35.37 score points). Conclusions:This study adds to the literature in showing that the typical QoL gender difference effect (women doing worse than men) may not be generalizable across all patient samples.

SUBMITTER: Koch M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7475557 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Gender effects on quality of life and symptom burden in patients with lung cancer: results from a prospective, cross-cultural, multi-center study.

Koch Myriam M Hjermstad Marianne Jensen MJ Tomaszewski Krzysztof K Tomaszewska Iwona I Hornslien Kjersti K Harle Amelie A Arraras Juan J Morag Ofir O Pompili Cecilia C Ioannidis Georgios G Navarra Chiara C Chie Weichu W Johnson Colin C Bohrer Thomas T Janssens Annelies A Kulis Dagmara D Bottomley Andrew A Schulz Christian C Zeman Florian F Koller Michael M

Journal of thoracic disease 20200801 8

<h4>Background</h4>Lung cancer causes impairment of health-related quality of life (QoL), but little is known about gender aspects in QoL and symptom burden of lung cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in QoL as assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the updated lung cancer module.<h4>Methods</h4>In a prospective, international, cross-cultural, multicenter study that was undertaken to update the lung ...[more]

PMID: 32944337

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectiveTo describe the magnitude and predictors of symptom burden (SB) and quality of life (QoL) 3 months after hospital admission for acute chest pain.DesignProspective observational study.SettingSingle centre, outpatient follow-up.Participants1506 patients.OutcomesScores reported for general health (RAND-12), angina-related health (Seattle Angina Questionnaire 7 (SAQ-7)) and dyspnoea (Rose Dyspnea Scale) 3 months after hospital admission for chest pain.MethodsA total of 1506 patients received questionnaires assessing general health (RAND-12), angina-related health (SAQ-7) and dyspnoea (Rose Dyspnea Scale) 3 months after discharge. Univariable and multivariable regression models identified predictors of SB and QoL scores. A mediator analysis identified factors mediating the effect of an unstable angina pectoris (UAP) diagnosis.Results774 (52%) responded. Discharge diagnoses were non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (14.2%), UAP (17.1%), non-coronary cardiac disease (6.6%), non-cardiac disease (6.3%) and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) (55.6%). NSTEMI had the most favourable, and UAP patients the least favourable SAQ-7 scores (median SAQ7-summary; 88 vs 75, p<0.001). NCCP patients reported persisting chest pain in 50% and dyspnoea in 33% of cases. After adjusting for confounders, revascularisation predicted better QoL scores, while UAP, current smoking and hypertension predicted worse outcome. NSTEMI and UAP patients who were revascularised reported higher scores (p<0.05) in SAQ-7-QL, SAQ7-PL, SAQ7-summary (NSTEMI) and all SAQ-7 domains (UAP). Revascularisation altered the unstandardised beta value (>±10%) of an UAP diagnosis for all SAQ-7 and RAND-12 outcomes.ConclusionsPatients with NSTEMI reported the most favourable outcome 3 months after hospitalisation for chest pain. Patients with other diseases, in particular UAP patients, reported lower scores. Revascularised NSTEMI and UAP patients reported higher QoL scores compared with patients receiving conservative treatment. Revascularisation mediated all outcomes in UAP patients.Trial registration numberNCT02620202.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Polypharmacy may be particularly burdensome near the end of life, as patients "accumulate" medications to treat and prevent multiple diseases. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate associations between polypharmacy, symptom burden, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced, life-limiting illness (clinician-estimated, 1 month-1 year). DESIGN:Secondary analysis of baseline data from a trial of statin discontinuation. PARTICIPANTS:Adults with advanced, life-limiting illness. MAIN MEASURES:Polypharmacy was assessed by summing the number of non-statin medications taken regularly or as needed. Symptom burden was assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (range 0-90; higher scores indicating greater symptom burden) and QOL was assessed using the McGill QOL Questionnaire (range 0-10; higher scores indicating better QOL). Linear regression models assessed associations between polypharmacy, symptom burden, and QOL. KEY RESULTS:Among 372 participants, 47% were age 75 or older and 35% were enrolled in hospice. The mean symptom score was 27.0 (standard deviation (SD) 16.1) and the mean QOL score was 7.0 (SD 1.3). The average number of non-statin medications was 11.6 (SD 5.0); one-third of participants took ≥ 14 medications. In adjusted models, higher polypharmacy was associated with higher symptom burden (coefficient 0.81; p < .001) and lower QOL (coefficient - .06; p = .001). Adjusting for symptom burden weakened the association between polypharmacy and QOL (coefficient - .03; p = .045) without a significant interaction, suggesting that worse quality of life associated with polypharmacy may be related to medication-associated symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:Among adults with advanced illness, taking more medications is associated with higher symptom burden and lower QOL. Attention to medication-related symptoms and shared decision-making regarding deprescribing are warranted in this setting. NIH TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier for Parent Study - NCT01415934.

Dataset Information

Gender effects on quality of life and symptom burden in patients with lung cancer: results from a prospective, cross-cultural, multi-center study.

Publications

Gender effects on quality of life and symptom burden in patients with lung cancer: results from a prospective, cross-cultural, multi-center study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets