![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective: To identify which domains/symptoms from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) were predictive of overall quality of life (QoL) in advanced cancer patients. Methods: Four hundred and forty seven patients with brain metastases or bone metastases from seven countries were enrolled with regression analysis to determine the predictive value of the QLQ-C30 functional/symptom scores for patient reported overall QoL (question 30), overall health (question 29) and the global health status domain (questions 29 and 30). Results: Worse role functioning, social functioning, fatigue and financial problems were the most significant predictive factors for worse QoL. In the bone metastases subgroup (n = 400), role functioning, fatigue and financial problems were the most significant predictors. In patients with brain metastases (n = 47), none of the EORTC domains significantly predicted worse QOL. Conclusion: Deterioration of certain QLQ-C30 functional/symptom scores significantly contributes to worse QoL, overall health and global health status.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the generous support of Bratty Family Fund, Michael and Karyn Goldstein Cancer Research Fund, Joseph and Silvana Melara Cancer Research Fund and Ofelia Cancer Research Fund.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Key issues
Maintenance of quality of life (QoL) is the main focus for advanced cancer patients due to their poor prognosis. By managing the most significant predictors of QoL, palliative care may be improved.
There are a limited number of published studies examining which domains/symptoms from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire are predictive of overall QoL in cancer patients.
Differences in predictive factors were noted between various patient subgroups. Symptom experiences and QoL may vary based on primary cancer treatment, thus patient care may be optimized if tailored to individual subgroups.
Fatigue consistently correlated with worse QoL in the literature and the present study despite the type of cancer of the patient sample.
Similarities in predictive factors of QoL, overall health and global health status were noted, although this is the first known study to simultaneously conduct all three analyses.
Further research is necessary to conclude whether the predictors of QoL, overall health and global health status change over time or eventually become stable.