Evaluating health-related quality of life in gastric cancer patients in Suzhou, China

Abstract

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important part of the evaluation of clinical efficacy and prognosis in gastric cancer. This study aimed to assess the HRQOL of patients with gastric cancer using the a five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and explore the factors influencing patients' perceived quality of life. For those significant factors, we can take appropriate measures to intervene to extend patient survival and improve the quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 243 patients with gastric cancer in the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University from December 2018 to December 2020. HRQOL was measured by the Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L. Nonparametric test analyses and a Tobit regression model were used to identify the independent variables associated with the EQ-5D-5L utility scores.Results: In this research, the mean score was 0.810, and the median was 0.893. Approximately 25% of patients reported no problems at all in any of the five dimensions. Problems in pain and discomfort were the most frequently reported (64.2%). Nonparametric test analyses showed that patients who did not have health insurance, or who had a history of alcohol use, a family history of cancer, had received surgery only, or had an interval of less than 1 week between taking this survey and their last treatment, demonstrated lower EQ-5D-5L scores. The Tobit regression model confirmed that health insurance, family history, and treatment were significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Conclusions:The HRQOL of gastric cancer patients can be measured by EQ-5D-5L, and the results may provide a guide for choosing an appropriate individualized treatment plan.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Utility Scores of Posttreatment Patients with Gastric Cancer at Different Pathological Stages: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The dimension where patients were most likely to report problems was pain/discomfort in all groups in this study, followed by anxiety/depression. This finding was supported by data showing that pain/discomfort was also the domain with the highest proportion of reporting problems, whereas anxiety/depression was the second [ 26 , 27 ]. Approximately, 40% of cancer survivors experience pain due to cancer treatment and complications [ 33 ].…”

“…Our findings confirmed previous research that demonstrated a decline in the quality of life decreased as GC progressed [ 25 , 26 ]. However, another study found that patients with stage I had the lowest utility value [ 27 ]. This could be because most of the gastric cancer patients at stage I in the previous study were treated with surgery, and there was a brief period between surgery and that research.…”

Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Associated Factors Among Older Adults in Urban and Rural Areas

“…A multivariate Tobit regression model was employed to assess the association between EQ-5D utility scores and its The Tobit model was chosen because of a common ceiling effect in the EQ-5D instruments, as a large number of patients report the highest health state, leading to some utility scores being censored at 1.0. 34,35 Therefore, when it comes to censored data, the use of Tobit regression model is advised. 36 Data were analyzed using STATA version 15.…”

Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Upper GI Malignancies

“…The influence of the disease and its therapies on patients’ physical, social, and emotional health, measured through HRQL, may be accurately assessed in patients with upper gastroenterological problems, which is useful for therapeutic decision making. Three key domains—general function, well-being perception, and subjective symptoms—are used to assess the HRQL of patients with upper gastrointestinal illnesses [ 107 , 108 ]. Patients’ viewpoint on the outcome and impact of the therapy as well as the experiences of patients suffering from gastric and esophageal cancer, which are characterized by a poor prognosis, are imprinted in HRQL [ 76 , 109 ].…”