Clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To identify clinical predictors of quality of life (QoL) in a head and neck cancer patient population.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 570 patients with upper aerodigestive tract cancers were surveyed at a tertiary care oncology clinic and Veterans Affairs otolaryngology clinic.


METHODS
A self-administered health survey was constructed to collect demographic, health, smoking, alcohol, depression symptom, and QoL information. Tumor site and tumor stage, clinical, and treatment data were abstracted from the patient medical records.


METHODS
Quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and the Head and Neck QoL (HNQoL) instrument.


RESULTS
Of the 570 eligible respondents, the presence of a feeding tube had the most negative impact on QoL, with significant decrements in 6 of the 8 SF-36 scales and all 4 HNQoL scales (P<.01). In descending order of severity, medical comorbid conditions, presence of a tracheotomy tube, chemotherapy, and neck dissection were also associated with significant (P<.05) decrements in QoL domains. Patients who took the survey more than 1 year after diagnosis had improved QoL in 7 of 12 domains. Hospital site, age, education level, sex, race, and marital status were also significant predictors of QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
There are at least 13 demographic and clinical characteristics that are significant predictors of QoL in patients with head and neck cancer, which should be considered when treating patients and conducting QoL studies in the future.
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0312, USA. Terrelj@umich.edu
Ronis
David L
DL
Fowler
Karen E
KE
Bradford
Carol R
CR
Chepeha
Douglas B
DB
Prince
Mark E
ME
Teknos
Theodoros N
TN
Wolf
Gregory T
GT
Duffy
Sonia A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000523:psychology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000523:psychology