Comorbidities in head and neck cancer: agreement between self-report and chart review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of self-reported comorbidities compared with medical record review and the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with accuracy of self-reported comorbidities.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of 458 newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients using self-administered questionnaire and medical chart review data. Overall and itemwise consistency between self-report and chart review was evaluated. Social, clinical, and demographic characteristics of consistent versus inconsistent responders were analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventy-four percent of patients had at least one comorbidity. There was good overall consistency between self-report and chart review (kappa = 0.50). Compared with consistent responders, inconsistent responders were found to be older (P < 0.05), have lower sleep (P < 0.05) and physical activity scores (P < 0.05), be more depressed (P < 0.05), and have more severe comorbidities (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-report may be considered as an alternative to chart review for comorbidity assessment in head and neck cancer patients. Younger patients, those with good general health, fewer depressive symptoms, and mild comorbidities, are more likely to give responses consistent with chart review.
Mukerji
Shraddha S
SS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Duffy
Sonia A
SA
Fowler
Karen E
KE
Khan
Mumtaz
M
Ronis
David L
DL
Terrell
Jeffrey E
JE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires