title: Changes in health related quality of life in women and men undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer and the impact of smoking status in the radiation treatment period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women and men undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer through the intervention period and examine if age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking status at baseline may modify changes in HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRQOL was examined by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-H&N35, in the beginning and end of the treatment period in 65 patients at the University Hospital in Northern Norway. Changes in HRQOL were calculated and compared by paired sample T-tests. Linear multiple regression analyses were used to examine if baseline characteristics had any influence towards HRQOL changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most aspects of HRQOL declined substantially and significantly (p < 0.001) with a magnitude of more than one standard deviation during the radiation treatment period irrespective of sex and age. Smoking status at baseline had some, albeit minor, influence on changes in HRQOL. Patients who continued smoking during therapy had significantly higher decline in several aspects of HRQOL, compared to patients who stopped smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQOL declined with substantial magnitude in patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck cancer, but smoking cessation may modify the declining quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: helen.egestad@uit.no.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egestad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emaus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: EORTC QLQ-C30; EORTC QLQ-H&N35; Head and neck cancer; Health-related quality of life; Prospective cohort study; Radiation therapy