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01-10-2011 | Original Article

The relationship between weight loss and health-related quality of life in persons treated for head and neck cancer

Authors: Barbara A. Head, Luke Heitz, Cynthia Keeney, John Myers, Savitri N. Appana, Jamie L. Studts, Jeffrey Bumpous, Mark Pfeifer

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 10/2011

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the relationship between weight loss, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and symptom burden in patients treated for head and neck cancers.

Methods

Participants completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and post-treatment. Weights were recorded prior to treatment and at the post-treatment follow-up visit, and percentage weight loss was tabulated. Relationships between weight loss, HRQOL, and symptom burden were evaluated using the nonparametric Spearman rho. A simple linear regression model was developed to examine the influence weight loss has on HRQOL in a predictive manner.

Results

Average weight loss per patient was 12 lb with a modal value of 19. Weight loss was found to be significantly correlated with decreases in physical well-being, functional well-being, the Head and Neck specific subscale, and composite QOL scores. No significant correlations were found between weight loss and symptom burden as measured by the MSAS. Linear regression suggested that a 10% decrease in baseline weight resulted in a 19% decrease in the FACT-H&N score.

Conclusion

The strong association between weight loss and HRQOL supports the importance of efforts to prevent weight loss via patient education, aggressive monitoring, and immediate intervention to stop or reverse weight loss during treatment. New approaches to the weight loss and wasting experienced by patients should be developed and tested.

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Title: The relationship between weight loss and health-related quality of life in persons treated for head and neck cancer
Authors: Barbara A. Head
Luke Heitz
Cynthia Keeney
John Myers
Savitri N. Appana
Jamie L. Studts
Jeffrey Bumpous
Mark Pfeifer
Publication date: 01-10-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-010-0975-x

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