Pre-treatment quality of life as a predictor of distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival in patients with head and neck cancer who underwent free flap reconstruction
Journal
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
Journal Volume
41
Pages
1-6
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined the prognostic associations of pre-treatment quality of life (QoL) with overall survival (OS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DFMS) among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who underwent free flap reconstruction. Methods: A cohort of 127 HNC patients who received free flap reconstruction between November 2010 and June 2014 at a hospital were recruited. Pre-treatment QoL was measured by the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, which contains six physical domains, including speech, swallowing, appearance, saliva, taste and chewing, as well as the six social-emotional domains of pain, activity, recreation, shoulder, mood, and anxiety. Cox regression analyses were performed. Results: Results showed that pre-treatment QoL was predictive of OS and DMFS. Of the domains, swallowing, chewing, speech, taste, saliva, pain and shoulder were demonstrated to be significant predictors of OS. Additionally, swallowing, chewing, speech, pain and activity were demonstrated making significant contributions to DMFS. Conclusion: Our data supported that physical domains of pre-treatment QoL were predictors for OS and DFMS in HNC patients with free-flap reconstruction. Longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the prognostic abilities of social-emotional domains. Information on pre-treatment QoL should be taken into account to individualize care plan for these patients, and hence prolong their survival. ? 2019 Elsevier Ltd
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; aged; cohort analysis; female; free tissue graft; head and neck tumor; human; male; metastasis; middle aged; preoperative care; prognosis; psychology; quality of life; questionnaire; reconstructive surgery; survival; Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Female; Free Tissue Flaps; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Preoperative Care; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival
Publisher
Churchill Livingstone
Type
journal article