The relationship between weight loss and health-related quality of life in persons treated for head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores the relationship between weight loss, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and symptom burden in patients treated for head and neck cancers.


METHODS
Participants completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Weights were recorded prior to treatment and at the post-treatment follow-up visit, and percentage weight loss was tabulated. Relationships between weight loss, HRQOL, and symptom burden were evaluated using the nonparametric Spearman rho. A simple linear regression model was developed to examine the influence weight loss has on HRQOL in a predictive manner.


RESULTS
Average weight loss per patient was 12 lb with a modal value of 19. Weight loss was found to be significantly correlated with decreases in physical well-being, functional well-being, the Head and Neck specific subscale, and composite QOL scores. No significant correlations were found between weight loss and symptom burden as measured by the MSAS. Linear regression suggested that a 10% decrease in baseline weight resulted in a 19% decrease in the FACT-H&N score.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong association between weight loss and HRQOL supports the importance of efforts to prevent weight loss via patient education, aggressive monitoring, and immediate intervention to stop or reverse weight loss during treatment. New approaches to the weight loss and wasting experienced by patients should be developed and tested.
Head
Barbara A
BA
University of Louisville School of Medicine, MDR Bldg., Suite 110, 511 South Floyd St., Ste. 110, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. barbara.head@louisville.edu
Heitz
Luke
L
Keeney
Cynthia
C
Myers
John
J
Appana
Savitri N
SN
Studts
Jamie L
JL
Bumpous
Jeffrey
J
Pfeifer
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss