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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Monitoring physical and psychosocial symptom trajectories in ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

Authors: Verena Meraner, Eva-Maria Gamper, Anna Grahmann, Johannes M Giesinger, Petra Wiesbauer, Monika Sztankay, Alain G Zeimet, Barbara Sperner-Unterweger, Bernhard Holzner

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) entail severe symptom burden and a significant loss of quality of life (QOL). Somatic and psychological impairments may persist well beyond active therapy. Although essential for optimal symptom management as well as for the interpretation of treatment outcomes, knowledge on the course of QOL-related issues is scarce. This study aimed at assessing the course of depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue and QOL in patients with OC over the course of chemotherapy until early after-care.

Methods

23 patients were assessed longitudinally (eight time points) with regard to symptom burden (depression, anxiety, fatigue, and QOL) by means of patient-reported outcome instruments (HADS, MFI-20, EORTC QLQ-C30/-OV28) and clinician ratings (HAMA/D) at each chemotherapy cycle and at the first two aftercare visits.

Results

Statistically significant decrease over time was found for depressive symptoms and anxiety as well as for all fatigue scales. With regard to QOL, results indicated significant increase for 11 of 15 QOL scales, best for Social (effect size = 1.95; p < 0.001), Emotional (e.s. = 1.62; p < 0.001) and Physical Functioning (e.s. = 1.47; p < 0.001). Abdominal Symptoms (e.s. = 1.01; p = 0.009) decreased, Attitudes towards Disease and Treatment (e.s. = 1.80; p < 0.001) improved significantly over time. Analysis of Sexual Functioning was not possible due to a high percentage of missing responses (61.9%).

Conclusions

The present study underlines the importance of longitudinal assessment of QOL in order to facilitate the identification of symptom burden in OC patients. We found that patients show high levels of fatigue, anxiety and depressive symptoms and severely impaired QOL post-surgery (i.e. at start of chemotherapy) but condition improves considerably throughout chemotherapy reaching nearly general population symptoms levels until aftercare.
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Metadata
Title
Monitoring physical and psychosocial symptom trajectories in ovarian cancer patients receiving chemotherapy
Authors
Verena Meraner
Eva-Maria Gamper
Anna Grahmann
Johannes M Giesinger
Petra Wiesbauer
Monika Sztankay
Alain G Zeimet
Barbara Sperner-Unterweger
Bernhard Holzner
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-12-77

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