Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer with low survival time, with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) being of major importance. The aim of our study was to assess both generic and disease-specific HRQoL in patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods: Patients with pancreatic cancer were consecutively included at admission to hospital. HRQoL was determined with the disease-specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and generic EuroQoL (EQ-5D) health status instruments. Scores of patients were compared to those of norm populations. The association of symptoms with overall HRQoL was analysed using linear regression. Results: A total of 45 patients with pancreatic cancer were included. The mean age was 64 years, 53% were females. Of all patients, 44% had metastases at the time of admission. HRQoL was significantly impaired for most EORTC and EQ-5D scales in comparison to norm populations. Symptoms of fatigue (–0.34 regression coefficient; 95% CI –0.63, –0.11) and pain (–0.21; 95% CI –0.39, –0.02) were significantly associated with impaired overall HRQoL. Conclusions: HRQoL was severely impaired in patients with pancreatic cancer. Symptom control and palliative care appear to be of particular importance.

A Progressive Postresection Walking Program Significantly Improves Fatigue and Health-Related Quality of Life in Pancreas and Periampullary Cancer Patients

“…These standardized questions included their current medical condition, adherence with the walking program, the amount and type of exercise performed, their current FVAS and PVAS rating, chemotherapy or radiation therapy being received, and the presence or absence of the following 10 symptoms: fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, anorexia, diarrhea, constipation, weakness, insomnia, and depression. This 10 symptom profile survey was based on a literature review of the most commonly reported symptoms in patients with PPC (6,11,(12)(13)(14)(15)(24)(25)(26)(27), and was administered to the IG during monthly follow-up phone calls and upon final follow-up. The UCG received the followup 10 symptom profile survey only upon final follow-up.…”

“…For example, when 600 postings from pancreas cancer patients and their families in a monitored Internet pancreas cancer Frequently Asked Questions chat room were analyzedpain, fatigue, and anorexia were the most frequently reported symptoms by post-operative patients as well as those who did not have surgery (11). Other investigations have reported fatigue, pain, weight loss, nausea, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, depression, and anxiety as the most prevalent symptoms reported by PPC patients at all stages of disease (6,(12)(13)(14)(15).…”

Symptom Burden, Depression, and Spiritual Well-Being: A Comparison of Heart Failure and Advanced Cancer Patients

“…9 Patients with pancreatic cancer similarly have significant impairments in multiple domains of quality of life and suffer from fatigue, loss of appetite, pain, nausea/vomiting, and other symptoms. 10,11 Palliative care, defined as care devoted to improving quality of life and reducing suffering for patients with severe, lifethreatening illnesses and their families, is often utilized in advanced cancer patients. 12 Typical domains addressed in palliative care include symptom burden, depression, and spiritual well-being.…”

Cost-effectiveness of FOLFIRINOX for first-line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

“…In addition, alternative values for health state utilities were specifically evaluated to assess the effect of lower utilities for stable and progressive disease. Health state utility values reported by Mϋller-Nordhorn and colleagues from their study evaluating the EQ-5D utility and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (eortc) values for pancreatic cancer patients were therefore included in the sensitivity analysis for this model 21 . It is important to note that the eortc values were similar to the baseline eortc values reported by Gourgou-Bourgade and colleagues 10 that describe the qol data from accord.…”