Burden of Illness in Prostate Cancer Patients with a Low-to-Moderate Risk of Progression: A One-Year, Pan-European Observational Study.
Objective. To assess the impact of low-to-moderate risk prostate cancer on patients' quality of life (QoL) at diagnosis and within the first year of treatment. Subjects and Methods. Men (n = 672) aged 50-75 years with prostate cancer (Gleason score ≤7, PSA ≤20 ng/mL and clinical staging T1c-T2b) were enrolled in five European countries. Patients completed five questionnaires, including EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Prostate Cancer 25 (QLQ-PR25) and EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer 30 (QLQ-C30). Questionnaires were completed at baseline, at 3 months and 12 months after starting treatment. The primary endpoint was the change in QLQ-PR25 urinary symptoms subscale score from baseline to the assessment at 3 months. Results. Mean (SD) age was 65.0 (5.7) years and 400 (66%) men had Gleason score ≤6 prostate cancer. The most frequently used initial treatment was radical prostatectomy (71% of patients). QLQ-PR25 urinary symptoms subscale score was significantly increased at 3 months (P < 0.001), indicating that urinary symptoms worsened after treatment. The score was lower at 12 months than at 3 months, but it was still significantly higher than at baseline (P < 0.001). Hormonal treatment-related symptoms, sexual functioning, and sexual activity scores significantly worsened at 3 and 12 months (all P < 0.001). For the QLQ-C30 questionnaire, global health status/QoL score significantly decreased at month 3 but was not different from baseline by month 12. Scales for physical, role, and social functioning, and fatigue, showed significant deterioration at 3 and 12 months. Conclusions. Low-to-moderate risk prostate cancer may have a substantial effect on patients' QoL within one year following treatment.
Department of Urology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Cesare
C
Selli
Skåne University Hospital, SE 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
Anders
A
Bjartell
Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
Javier
J
Burgos
GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Matthew
M
Somerville
GlaxoSmithKline, Urology Centre of Excellence, C/Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain.
Juan-Manuel
JM
Palacios
GlaxoSmithKline, Health Outcomes Studies, 78160 Marly-Le-Roi, France.
Laure
L
Benjamin
GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Libby
L
Black
GlaxoSmithKline, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA.
Ramiro
R
Castro