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Quality of Life Research
Published in: Quality of Life Research 4/2014

01-05-2014

Health-related quality of life among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients with end-stage disease

Authors: Niilo Färkkilä, Saku Torvinen, Risto P. Roine, Harri Sintonen, Juha Hänninen, Kimmo Taari, Tiina Saarto

Published in: Quality of Life Research | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

To explore end-stage breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL); to compare results obtained by different HRQoL instruments; and to explore factors related to impaired HRQoL.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study utilized two generic HRQoL instruments, the 15D and the EQ-5D, and a cancer-specific instrument, the EORTC QLQ-C30. Patients were recruited from the Helsinki University Hospital’s Department of Oncology and from a local hospice.

Results

Of the 114 palliative care patients included in the analysis, 27 had breast cancer, 30 had prostate cancer, and 57 had colorectal cancer. Of these, 28 % died within 3 months after their response, while 32 % died within three to 6 months, and 39 % died more than 6 months after. Utility values varied widely by instrument: the 15D gave the highest utility values and VAS the lowest (15D: 0.74, EQ-5D: 0.59 and VAS: 55). Patients close to death had lower HRQoL scores independently from the instrument used. The EQ-5D showed a pronounced ceiling effect, with 13 % of patients reporting full health, whereas the corresponding figures for the 15D and VAS were 1 and 0 %, respectively. Fatigue was the most common symptom and also predicted impaired HRQoL most significantly.

Conclusions

All instruments were applicable for the evaluation of HRQoL among end-stage cancer patients. Fatigue seemed to be the most significant deteriorating factor, whereas clinical and demographic factors had less of an effect on HRQoL.
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Metadata
Title
Health-related quality of life among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients with end-stage disease
Authors
Niilo Färkkilä
Saku Torvinen
Risto P. Roine
Harri Sintonen
Juha Hänninen
Kimmo Taari
Tiina Saarto
Publication date
01-05-2014
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Quality of Life Research / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 0962-9343
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2649
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-013-0562-y

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