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Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship 3/2016

01-06-2016

Lost workdays in uterine cervical cancer survivors compared to the general population: impact of treatment and relapse

Authors: Åsa H. Everhov, Sara Ekberg, Angelica Lindén Hirschberg, Karin Bergmark, Angelique Flöter Rådestad, Ingrid Glimelius, Karin E. Smedby

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 3/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to examine the risk of lost workdays due to sick leave and disability pension by treatment modality and relapse in a population-based cohort of cervical cancer survivors versus matched comparators.

Methods

We identified 1971 cervical cancer patients aged ≤60 years (median 42) at diagnosis in Sweden 2003–2009 and 9254 population comparators. Information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, sick leave, and disability pension was retrieved from nationwide prospective registers. Differences in the annual mean number of lost workdays were calculated by linear regression, and hazard ratios (HRs) of disability pension were calculated by Cox regression analysis, with follow-up through September 2013.

Results

Cervical cancer patients had more lost workdays annually than comparators up to 8 years following diagnosis. Relapse-free patients had more lost workdays than comparators up to 4 years. Risk of disability pension during follow-up was increased among the relapse-free patients treated with hysterectomy (HR 1.8 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.1–2.8]), hysterectomy plus chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (HR 2.5 [95 % CI 1.2–5.4]), or chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy alone (HR 3.0 [95 % CI 1.3–6.8]), compared with the population. Women treated with fertility-sparing surgery did not have more lost workdays than the population beyond the first year and were not at increased risk of disability pension.

Conclusion

We observed a long-standing increased risk of lost workdays among cervical cancer patients, overall, as well as among relapse-free patients.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Extensive but not limited treatment was associated with increased risk of lost workdays, possibly reflecting an association between treatment side effects and work ability.
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Metadata
Title
Lost workdays in uterine cervical cancer survivors compared to the general population: impact of treatment and relapse
Authors
Åsa H. Everhov
Sara Ekberg
Angelica Lindén Hirschberg
Karin Bergmark
Angelique Flöter Rådestad
Ingrid Glimelius
Karin E. Smedby
Publication date
01-06-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-015-0496-1

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