Quality of Life in Endometrial Cancer Survivors: What Does Obesity Have to Do with It?

Abstract

Objective. Most women with type I endometrial cancer (EC) are obese, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality in this population. The study objective was to evaluate the impact of obesity on quality of life (QOL) and general health status in EC survivors with early-stage disease. Methods. A prospective ancillary analysis of stage I/II EC survivors. The association of BMI with QOL questionnaire variables measured with the functional assessment of cancer therapy (subscales: physical (PWB), functional (FWB), social, and emotional well-being) and the physical (PCS) and mental component summary subscales of the short-form medical outcomes survey was determined. Results. 152 women completed both questionnaires; 81% were obese. After multiple linear regression, BMI was inversely associated with PWB (P = .001), FWB (P = 0.048), and PCS (P = .001). Conclusions. Despite the good prognosis associated with early-stage EC, QOL, and physical health are not optimized in obese survivors. This paper highlights the importance of incorporating health-related QOL assessments and obesity interventions during the survivorship period.

The impact of BMI on surgical complications and outcomes in endometrial cancer surgery—An institutional study and systematic review of the literature

“…Particular attention needs to be paid to the morbidly obese, as they can comprise up to 36% of the EC population and are at highest risk of postoperative complications impairing recovery and possibly long-term outcomes [5]. Classification of complications according to internationally validated systems, such as the Clavien-Dindo system, should be highly recommended to improve comparability across studies.…”

“…The incidence has risen over the recent decades, most likely due to increasing obesity [2,3], with studies reporting up to 81% of EC patients being obese, and 19% to 36% being morbidly obese [4,5]. Furthermore, the majority of these women are insufficiently active and have several medical obesity-related comorbidities [6,7].…”

Obesity and Endometrial Cancer: A Lack of Knowledge but Opportunity for Intervention

“…Fader et al demonstrated that higher BMI is associated with poor physical health scores and lack of energy, as well as lower quality of life scores for fulfillment of work and enjoyment of life (4). Ultimately, among women with endometrial cancer, those who are obese are more likely to die of their cancer or co-morbidities compared to those with normal BMIs (5).…”

Functional Status in Turkish Women with Gynecological Cancer

“…It includes daily living activities together with symptoms of disease and treatment with its physical dimension and cancer patients including gynecological cancer are prone to significant problems that negatively affect the quality of life (Ell et al, 2008;Luckett et al, 2010;Fader et al, 2011;Van Cleave et al, 2011;2012).…”