Associations among hearing loss, multiple co-occurring symptoms, and quality of life outcomes in cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose Evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, occurrence of common symptoms, symptom severity scores, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in survivors with ( n = 155) and without ( n = 118) audiometrically confirmed hearing loss. Methods Survivors, who were recruited from throughout the San Francisco Bay area, completed the self-report questionnaires to obtain the information of demographic and clinical characteristics; the occurrence and severity of depression, anxiety, fatigue, decrements in energy, sleep disturbance, pain, and cognitive impairment; and the general and cancer-specific QOL outcomes. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate for differences between the two survivor groups. Results Survivors with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss were older, more likely to be male, were more likely to be unemployed, report a lower annual household income, and had a higher comorbidity burden. Except for the severity of worst pain, no between-group differences were found in the occurrence rates for or severity of any of the symptoms. Survivors with hearing loss reported worse physical function and general health scores. Conclusions While no between-group differences in symptom occurrence rates and severity scores were found, across the total sample, a relatively high percentage of survivors who were over 6 years from their cancer diagnosis reported clinically meaningful levels of depression (25%), anxiety (50%), fatigue (40%), decrements in energy (70%), sleep disturbance (58%), cognitive impairment (57%), and pain (60%). Implications for Cancer Survivors Clinicians need to perform routine assessments of hearing loss, as well as common co-occurring symptoms and initiate individualized symptom management interventions.

Neurologic Complications in Adult Cancer Survivorship

“…This hearing loss is irreversible and impacts cognition, communication, and quality of life. 63 64 Symptom assessments, baseline and subsequent audiograms after cancer treatment can facilitate early detection and intervention; however, these are not yet standard practices.…”

Program to Improve Quality of Life in Oncology Patients of the Program Club De La Mama at the National Maternal Perinatal Institute 2023.

“…Los modelos psicológicos actuales y especializados, como la Psicooncología, están enfocados en la reducción del impacto cognitivo, emocional, motivacional y conductual en los pacientes con cáncer, estos han generado estrategias de prevención y afrontamiento para un soporte óptimo y adecuado durante el tratamiento médico, evidenciando eficiencia en la reducción del impacto del cáncer, y su intervención, en la salud emocional de los pacientes (10,14) . Por esta razón es necesario desarrollar estrategias para la autorregulación emocional, enfocándose en técnicas de relajación, respiración, afrontamiento al estrés y solución de problemas, expresión emocional, autoaceptación, modificación de ideas, con el fin de poder reestructurar metas y proyectos en los pacientes, estableciendo estilos de vida y cuidados apropiados para su vida social, familiar y de pareja, generándose en el tiempo un entorno saludable durante el tratamiento (15)(16)(17)(18)(19) .…”