Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) in Patients with Ovarian Cancer: What Is Different Compared to Healthy Women?

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients with ovarian cancer using a patient-reported outcome (PRO) based questionnaire and to compare it to the healthy female population in Germany and to other ovarian cancer patients worldwide. Additionally, we looked for differences in the HR-QoL with respect to the patients’ ages in our cohort. Methods: The HR-QoL for 155 enrolled patients with ovarian cancer was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) prior to surgery and then compared with 501 healthy females in Germany, as well as to the previously published European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) reference data for 917 patients with ovarian cancer worldwide. Moreover, we grouped our cohort by ages <65 and >65 years and analyzed them for further differences. To identify the differences, T-tests were applied. Results: Overall, 155 patients were enrolled, and 126 patients had advanced-stage ovarian cancer (FIGO III–IV) (82.4%). Fifty-five (36%) patients were >65 years. Except for the physical functioning scale, all other domains of the functioning scales were significantly lower in our patients with ovarian cancer than in the healthy female population. The emotional (50 points versus 60 points, p = 0.02), cognitive (76 points versus 88 points, p = 0.005), and social functioning scales (68 points versus 81 points, p = 0.006) were lower in the younger subgroup. Further, the younger subgroup exhibited significantly more fatigue (40 points versus 29 points, p = 0.03) and financial difficulties (20 points versus 2 points, p < 0.001) than the older subgroup. Discussion: Interestingly, the patients with ovarian cancer had no significant differences in the physical functioning scale when compared with the healthy women. In contrast, the patients, especially in the younger group, needed special support for the emotional and social areas of their daily lives.

Bibliometric analysis of hotspots and frontiers in cancer-related fatigue among ovarian cancer survivors

“…Several surveys found that 43% [ 48 ]-53% [ 17 ] of patients with ovarian cancer complained of fatigue or extreme fatigue. CRF as a long-term side effect in cancer survivors negatively impacts the QoL of patients [ 18 , 49 ]. Home-based exercise, good relationships, and lifestyle interventions can improve QoL and reduce fatigue in patients with ovarian cancer [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Analysis of Ovarian Cancer Risk Factor : A Systematic Review

“…Various symptoms are felt impact psychology. Women will experience anxiety, depression, and even lose enthusiasm because they are burdened with their illness, affecting their attitude towards the treatment process (Ebell et al, 2016;Inci et al, 2021;Wulandari, 2018). Social and sexual relationships of ovarian cancer patients will also be disrupted, where women with ovarian cancer do not enjoy intimate relationships with their husbands due to decreased desire to have sex and the pain experienced during sexual intercourse (Ahmed-Lecheheb & Joly, 2016;Fischer et al, 2019;Mayer et al, 2019).…”