| | A Comparison of Quality-of-Life Domains and Clinical Factors in Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Gynecologic Oncology Group StudyPresented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists 2008 Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL, March 9–12, 2008. Accepted 16 October 2009. Abstract ContextWomen diagnosed with ovarian cancer are at risk for reduced quality of life (QOL). It is imperative to further define these declines to interpret treatment outcomes and design appropriate clinical interventions. ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to compare data obtained from ovarian cancer patients with normative data to assess the degree to which QOL differs from the norm. Secondary objectives were to examine demographic variables and determine if there was a correlation between physical/functional and social/emotional scores during chemotherapy. MethodsPatients with Stage III/IV ovarian cancer on Gynecologic Oncology Group Protocols 152 and 172 who underwent surgery followed by intravenous paclitaxel and cisplatin completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale includes the four domains of physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being (PWB, FWB, SWB, and EWB, respectively). ResultsOvarian cancer patients had a total QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) score similar to the U.S. female adult population. However, the reported subscale scores were 2.0 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–2.5, P <0.001, effect size=0.37) lower in PWB, 0.9 points (95% CI 0.3–1.5, P=0.005, effect size=0.13) lower in FWB, 5.0 points (95% CI 4.6–5.3, P<0.001, effect size=0.74) higher in SWB, and 0.8 points (95% CI 0.3–1.2, P<0.001, effect size=0.16) lower in EWB. Correlation between the sum of PWB and FWB and the sum of SWB and EWB was r=0.53 (P<0.001). Age was positively correlated with EWB (r=0.193; 95% CI 0.09–0.29). ConclusionOvarian cancer patients have decreased QOL in physical, functional, and emotional domains; however, they may compensate with increased social support. At the time of diagnosis and treatment, patients' QOL is affected by inherent characteristics. Assessment of treatment outcomes should take into account the effect of these independent variables. a Department of Reproductive Biology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA b Gynecologic Oncology Group Statistical and Data Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, Ohio, USA d Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio, USA e Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California, USA f Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California, USA g Center for Health Policy Research, University of California-Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California, USA h Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA i Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA j Center on Outcomes Research and Education, Evanston, Illinois, USA k Evanston Northwestern Healthcare and Northwestern University Medical School, Evanston, Illinois, USA  Address correspondence to: Vivian E. von Gruenigen, MD, Department of Reproductive Biology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Room 7128, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
This work was supported by National Cancer Institute grants to the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Administrative Office (CA 27469) and the GOG Statistical and Data Center (CA 37517). PII: S0885-3924(10)00157-0 doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.09.022 © 2010 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. | |
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