Quality of life in elderly patients with head and neck cancer one year after diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients.


METHODS
Seventy-eight older (> or =70 years) and 105 younger patients (45-60 years) with carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx (stage > or =II), or larynx (stage > or =III) completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire and EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire before treatment. Fifty-one older and 70 younger patients completed all follow-up questionnaires at 3, 6, and 12 months.


RESULTS
Before and after treatment, the physical functioning of the older patients was worse than that of younger patients. This difference remained relatively constant during follow-up and is probably related to normal aging. At baseline and 3 months, no other differences were found between both groups. At 6 months, younger patients reported more pain, but at 12 months no relevant differences were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment did not affect QOL differently in older and younger patients. Therefore, standard treatment should always be considered, irrespective of the patient's age.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. W.Derks@azu.nl
Wynia
W
Derks
Rob J
RJ
de Leeuw
Gerrit Jan
GJ
Hordijk
Jacques A
JA
Winnubst
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors