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BMC Palliative Care
Published in: BMC Palliative Care 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Quality of life in men with metastatic prostate cancer in their final years before death – a retrospective analysis of prospective data

Authors: Maja Holm, Sandra Doveson, Olav Lindqvist, Agneta Wennman-Larsen, Per Fransson

Published in: BMC Palliative Care | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Quality of Life (QoL) is the most important outcome for patients in palliative care along with symptom alleviation. Metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) is a life-threatening illness, and hence, a palliative care approach may be beneficial to this group. Over time, new life-prolonging treatments have been developed for men with mPC, but the possibility to prolong life should also be balanced against the men’s QoL, particularly because there are side effects involved with these treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate QoL, functioning and symptoms in men with mPC during their final years before death.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of data from a long-term prospective study of men (n = 3885) with prostate cancer from two regions in Sweden. Validated questionnaires asking about participants’ QoL, functioning and symptoms were used to collect data. From the overall study, 190 men with mPC were identified. They were stratified into three groups, depending on the amount of time that had passed between the last questionnaire and their death; < 6 months, 6–18 months and > 18 months before death.

Results

Men with mPC generally rated their QoL poorly compared to established clinically significant threshold values. The group of men that were < 6 months before death rated their QoL, functioning and several symptoms significantly worse than the two other groups. Men that died after the year 2006 reported lower QoL and functioning and more pain and fatigue than those who died before 2006.

Conclusion

The results in this study indicate that men with mPC have unmet needs with regards to QoL and symptoms. A palliative care approach, alongside possible life-prolonging treatments, that focuses on QoL and symptom relief, may serve as an important frame to give the best support to these men in their final years of life.
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Metadata
Title
Quality of life in men with metastatic prostate cancer in their final years before death – a retrospective analysis of prospective data
Authors
Maja Holm
Sandra Doveson
Olav Lindqvist
Agneta Wennman-Larsen
Per Fransson
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Palliative Care / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1472-684X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-018-0381-6

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