Long-term Quality of Life After Distal Subtotal and Total Gastrectomy: Symptom- and Behavior-oriented Consequences.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed long-term quality of life (QoL) after subtotal gastrectomy (STG) and total gastrectomy (TG) by comparing groups matched by a set of patient factors at and beyond postoperative 5 years. The cause of QoL gaps based on symptomatic and behavioral consequences of surgery were investigated.


BACKGROUND
Survivors after STG and TG were matched by a set of patient factors (age, sex, stage, chemotherapy, and postoperative period). QoL data were obtained from 53 and 36 pairs of survivors at and beyond postoperative 5 years, respectively.


METHODS
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 were used to assess QoL. QoL comparisons between STG and TG groups were made for 5-year survivors and long-term survivors.


RESULTS
Five-year survivors after TG showed significantly worse QoL in social functioning, nausea and vomiting, eating restrictions, and taste. For long-term survivors, QoL inferiority of the TG group was observed only in eating restrictions. Among 4 items constituting eating restrictions, the TG group tended to exhibit worse QoL in 2 items (enjoyable meals and social meals).


CONCLUSIONS
Although 5-year survivors after TG still suffer from QoL inferiority from symptomatic and behavioral consequences of surgery, inferiority from behavioral consequences will persist even after symptomatic inferiority to STG survivors is no longer valid. Efforts to ameliorate persistent QoL inferiority in TG survivors should be directed toward restoring dietary behaviors, where TG survivors are prevented from enjoyable meals and social meals.
*Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea †Gastric Cancer Center, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Seung Soo
SS
Lee
Ho Young
HY
Chung
Oh Kyoung
OK
Kwon
Wansik
W
Yu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057216:Propensity Score; D011788:Quality of Life; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*