Factors affecting health-related quality of life in prostate cancer patients

Abstract

Objective. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Lithuania. Quality of life (QoL) assessment plays a key role in the evaluation and treatment of cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the QoL of patients with prostate cancer in Lithuania. Material and methods. A cross-sectional national-level study was performed. QoL was investigated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, interrelationship analysis between characteristics and multivariate logistic regression to estimate predictors and odds ratios (ORs) for each of the independent variables in the model. Results. The response rate was 74.8% (N = 486). One-quarter of respondents with prostate cancer indicated high QoL scores. Higher QoL scores were given for prostate cancer patients with lower education level [OR = 3.092, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.007–9.491, p = 0.049], having lower monthly expenses for treatment (OR = 3.653, CI 1.318–10.128, p = 0.013), disease stage II (by patient conveyance) (OR = 10.053, CI 1.015–99.534, p = 0.048), disease stage I (by medical record) (OR = 2.19E + 08, CI 218514200.17–218514200.17, p < 0.001) and in those with undisclosed disease stage (OR = 9.220, CI 1.251–67.965, p = 0.029). Conclusions. Significant predictors for higher QoL scores were education level, own monthly expenses for treatment and disease stage. Patients with undisclosed disease stage more often had higher QoL scores.

Key Words::

• lithuania
• prostate cancer
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the grants from Kaunas University of Medicine: 2010-09-29 no. MC-31 and 2011-03-03 no. MC-10. We would like to thank to staff members from the Oncology Hospital of Vilnius University, the Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine, Oncology Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine, Klaipėda University Hospital, Šiauliai County Hospital and Panevėžys County Hospital, for contributing and facilitating data collection.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.