The quality-adjusted life-years in the oncological patients’ health-related quality of life

Abstract

The oncological treatment can significantly affect patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which should be monitored to ensure our patients’ well-being. The often-used HRQoL measurer is the quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) indicator of the disease burden, describing both quality and quantity of life lived. The main aim of the study was to discuss the methodology and usefulness of evaluating QALYs using the HRQoL questionnaires: EuroQoL (EQ)-5 dimensions-3 levels (EQ-5D-3L) and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) in 32 cervical cancer patients. We obtained the questionnaire and calculated QALYs based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) method. In our study, the total scoring of the EQ-Index, EQ-VAS evaluation was 2620 and 2409 points, respectively, which corresponds with the QALYs value of 26.2 and 24.9, respectively. We expressed the QALYs outcome into the economic equivalent of nearly 900,000 US dollars (USD) as the total health profit for both the patients and the healthcare system. Obtaining the QALY factor can help establish the medical management’s influence on the patients’ HRQoL and improve the healthcare services to ensure the best health outcomes.

Prediction of Patient Outcomes in Locally Advanced Cervical Carcinoma Following Chemoradiotherapy—Comparative Effectiveness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose Imaging

“…This requires thorough investigation through future research. As has been alluded to, LACC is associated with significant effects on QoL and HRQoL post treatment [31]. The employment of a standardised follow-up, which may serve to provide personalised risk-adapted care, could help improve patients' quality of life and reduce the economic burden associated with longer-term follow-up.…”

“…Moreover, investigation into the utilisation of combination assessment is warranted, especially in light of promising and favourable outcomes observed in previous studies involving biologically similar cancers, such as anal cell carcinoma [30]. This could be used to offer personalised follow-ups, potentially alleviating the substantial reduction in the quality of life of and economic impact to the patient associated with both the disease and its subsequent follow-up [31].…”

Feasibility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients with Axillary Conversion after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy—A Single-Tertiary Centre Experience and Review of the Literature

“…The widespread and rapid development of diagnostic methods and primary systemic therapy have revolutionised the management of patients diagnosed with BC. Under the circumstances of the great therapeutic response of these new treatments, the next major concern and future direction for BC patient management is to reduce the extent of the needed surgical procedures while improving the patients’ quality of life [ 2 , 3 ]. Some recent studies even proposed chimeric antigen receptor therapy for the treatment of BC [ 4 ].…”