Correlation of patient-derived utility values and quality of life after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
Utility value (UV) represents the "value" that a patient places on a given health state and can be closely associated with quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine if UV and quality of life are correlated after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and to assess quality of life after pancreaticoduodenectomy.


METHODS
Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer were interviewed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, which measures 8 domains of quality of life. Patients assessed their current health state by rating their present health from 0 (which was equivalent to death) to 100 (which was equivalent to prefect health), and by a time-exchange (TE) method that asked how many years of their present life they would be willing to exchange for perfect health. Statistical analysis consisted of linear regression analysis and Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Twenty patients were interviewed. The UVs correlated with the TE (p = 0.003, r = -0.63), and 6 of 8 36-item Short Form Health Survey domains: physical functioning (p < 0.00001, r = 0.82), role-physical (p = 0.005, r = 0.61), bodily pain (p = 0.003, r = 0.63), general health (p = 0.00001, r = 0.81), vitality (p = 0.01, r = 0.54), and mental health (p = 0.03, r = 0.5). The TE score correlated with the physical functioning (p = 0.06, r = -0.59) and bodily pain (p = 0.05, r = -0.44) domains. There were significant differences in the UV, TE, physical functioning, role-physical, and role-emotional between patients less than 1 year and more than 1 year postoperative.


CONCLUSIONS
These data imply that patient-perceived health status and quality of life are linked and that quality-of-life scores after pancreaticoduodenectomy are better in patients more than 1 year postoperative.
Warnick
Stephen J
SJ
Division of General Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.
Velanovich
Vic
V
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires