Cancer Res Treat.  2016 Jul;48(3):1030-1036. 10.4143/crt.2015.398.

Chronological Changes of Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors after Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

• Yu W
• Park KB
• Chung HY
• Kwon OK
• Lee SS

• KMID: 2344076
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2015.398

Abstract

PURPOSE
A few studies have prospectively evaluated changes in quality of life (QoL) after surgery in short-term survivors; however, no prospective study has evaluated the longitudinal changes in QoL in long-terms survivors. We prospectively evaluated the chronological changes in QoL after a gastrectomy over a 5-year postoperative period in a large group of patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
QoL data from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and the QLQ-STO22 questionnaires were obtained from 254 patients who completed the entire series of QoL assessments preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years after surgery.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant change in global health status/QoL during the 5-year postoperative period. Decreases in QoL from upper gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea (p < 0.001), dysphagia (p < 0.001), reflux symptoms (p=0.029), and eating restrictions (p < 0.001) were observed among the long-term survivors. Decreased physical functioning (p < 0.001), role functioning (p < 0.001), and cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), along with fatigue (p=0.045) and a poor body image (p=0.003), negatively impacted the patients' QoL for a long time.
CONCLUSION
Management of gastrointestinal symptoms should be specifically targeted as a part of long-term patient care after a gastrectomy. Proper nutritional care will improve food intake resulting in weight gain and improved physical functioning, role functioning, and body image. In addition, patients should be encouraged to preserve self-esteem and maintain social activity.

Keyword

Quality of life; Stomach neoplasms; Gastrectomy

MeSH Terms

Body Image
Deglutition Disorders
Diarrhea
Eating
Fatigue
Gastrectomy*
Global Health
Humans
Patient Care
Postoperative Period
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life*
Stomach Neoplasms*
Survivors*
Weight Gain

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Mean scores and 95% confidence intervals of global health status/QoL scale of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. QoL, quality of life; EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire.

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  Fig. 2. Mean scores of functional scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire; PF2, physical functioning; RF2, role functioning; EF, emotional functioning; CF, cognitive functioning; SF, social functioning.

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  Fig. 3. Mean scores of symptom scales of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire; FA, fatigue; NV, nausea and vomiting; PA, pain.

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  Fig. 4. Mean scores of single items of EORTC QLQ-C30 at each time point. EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire; DY, dyspnea; SL, insomnia; AP, appetite loss; CO, constipation; DI, diarrhea; FI, financial difficulties.

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  Fig. 5. Mean scores of scales of EORTC QLQ-STO22 at each time point. EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire; XDG, dysphagia; XPain, pain; XRflex, reflux symptoms; XEatR, eating restrictions; Anx, anxiety.

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  Fig. 6. Mean scores of single items of EORTC QLQ-STO22 at each time point. EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; QLQ, Quality of Life Questionnaire; DM, dry mouth; T, taste; BI, body image; HL, hair loss.

Reference

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