Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Klapheke, Amy K.
• Keegan, Theresa H.M.
• Ruskin, Rachel
• Cress, Rosemary D.

Titel

Changes in health-related quality of life in older women after diagnosis with gynecologic cancer

Ist Teil von

• Gynecologic oncology, 2020-02, Vol.156 (2), p.475-481

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2020

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The impact of gynecologic cancer on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not fully understood. To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study to measure HRQOL changes from before to after gynecologic cancer diagnosis in older women. Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results – Medicare Health Outcomes Survey database. Women aged 65 and older who were diagnosed with cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer between baseline and follow-up surveys (n = 248; mean time from diagnosis = 12.54 ± 7.11 months) were propensity-matched to cancer-free controls (n = 1240). Logistic regression was used to assess risk of functional impairments and depressive symptoms at follow-up. Changes in HRQOL, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 and Veterans RAND 12-Item Survey, were estimated with mixed effects linear models. Women who were within 12 months of diagnosis and women diagnosed with regional/distant disease had significantly greater odds than controls of impairment at follow-up. HRQOL declines were greatest in those with advanced disease, with the most notable changes from baseline to follow-up observed for role limitations due to emotional problems (−8.60 vs. −3.42 in controls), general health (−7.76 vs 0.10), and physical functioning (−7.70 vs. −1.67). There were significant decreases in physical functioning and role limitations due to emotional problems for all cancer patients regardless of time since diagnosis. Gynecologic cancer has significant impacts on physical and mental aspects of HRQOL in older women. Interventions are needed to reduce pain, provide support, and prepare patients for changes in functioning and health. •Older women experience significant declines in physical and mental health after diagnosis with gynecologic cancer.•Deficits in physical and mental well-being were significantly worse in women with cancer than in cancer-free women.•The most notable changes were in role limitations due to emotional problems, general health, and physical functioning.•Impairment was greatest in women with advanced disease and women within one year of diagnosis.•Interventions are needed to better support and prepare older women for changes in health after cancer diagnosis.