title: Health-related quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors: Results from the American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors - I.
abstract: There are limited data on outcomes and predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of ovarian cancer survivors. Therefore, we examined the trajectory and predictors of HRQOL one- and two-years post-diagnosis in this population.
  
  
  
  365 ovarian cancer survivors, a subset of participants in the longitudinal American Cancer Society's Study of Cancer Survivors-I, completed questionnaires at one-year post-diagnosis on sociodemographics, clinical factors, and HRQOL (SF-36). 284 women had HRQOL data at two-years post-diagnosis. In this secondary data analysis, we examined HRQOL at both time points, changes in HRQOL and predictors of HRQOL with univariate and multivariate linear regression.
  
  
  
  Mean mental and physical HRQOL scores one-year post-diagnosis were 49.37 (SD±11.59) and 45.96 (SD±10.89), respectively. Older age, lower income, higher disease stage, more comorbidities and greater symptom burden were associated with poorer physical functioning one year post-diagnosis. Younger age, higher stage, having an existing mental health issue, greater symptom burden, and not receiving chemotherapy were associated with poorer mental functioning. Disease recurrence between one- and two-years post-diagnosis and greater symptom burden were predictors of declining physical functioning from one- to two-years post-diagnosis. Mental functioning did not change significantly between assessments.
  
  
  
  Overall mental and physical functioning of these ovarian cancer survivors was similar to the general population. However, lower HRQOL was associated with a number of variables, including disease recurrence, treatment status, symptom burden, age, and number of comorbidities. These findings can help health care providers identify survivors who may benefit from relevant interventions.
authors.affiliation: Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States. Electronic address: yang.zhou@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Melinda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.affiliation: Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.affiliation: Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States; School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCorkle
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ercolano
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Fangyong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Research Center, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, United States; Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cartmel
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018426:SEER Program; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Ovarian cancer; Quality of life; Survivors