Use of tranquilizers and sleeping pills among cancer patients is associated with a poorer quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between sleeping pill/tranquilizer (SP/T) use and quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients.


METHODS
Oncology patients (n = 909) in three Israeli hospitals were interviewed in clinics, day centers and in-patient departments regarding SP/T use in the previous week. Crude and adjusted QOL scores, measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), were compared in users vs. non-users.


RESULTS
Sleeping pill/tranquilizer use was self-reported by 234 (25.7%) participants, but rarely documented in medical charts. Factors associated with SP/T use were female gender (adjusted Odds ratio, OR: 1.79; 95% Confidence interval, CI: 1.22-2.62, age (OR: 4.6; 95% CI: 1.66-12.53 for age 70+), place of birth (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.19-3.26 for Eastern Europe compared with Israel), concomitant use of painkillers (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.97-4.20) and presence of cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.48-3.91). Controlling these factors as well as disease status, users had a poorer QOL on all functional scales (p < 0.001) as well as global QOL. Furthermore, users reported increased severity of symptoms, especially fatigue, insomnia, pain, dyspnea and constipation (p < 0.01), compared to non-users.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of SP/T, reported by one fourth of cancer patients, was associated with substantially poorer QOL and increased severity of symptoms. Causal inference is not possible given the cross-sectional design. Periodic inquiry regarding use of these medications in the Oncology Clinic is recommended since it may identify patients with poor QOL and unmet needs.
Paltiel
O
O
Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. ora@vms.huji.ac.il
Marzec-Boguslawska
A
A
Soskolne
V
V
Massalha
S
S
Avitzour
M
M
Pfeffer
R
R
Cherny
N
N
Peretz
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007557:Israel; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents