Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Undergoing Clinical Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Protected nutritional status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and appetite provide longer survival for cancer patients. Oscillations are common during treatment, but little is known about factors interfering with HRQOL. Objective: To assess the factors associated with the HRQOL of patients with cancer. Method: A cross-sectional study with 110 cancer patients undergoing clinical treatment. Sociodemographic, clinical, HRQOL, nutritional status and appetite variables were collected. The instruments used were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30, the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and the Cancer Appetite and Symptom Questionnaire. For statistical analysis, the level of significance was 5%. Results: The majority were female (62.72%) with a mean age of 74.41±24.54 years, married (70.0%), without working activity (51.82%) and belonging to economic class B (54.54%). The most prevalent type of cancer in this population was breast cancer (30.0%), with staging IV (34.44%) and absence of metastasis (53.64%). The appetite impairment was identified as a factor associated with HRQOL, presenting significant difference in the global health and QoL (quality of life). Emotional function was the most damaged. Fatigue was the symptom that presented the highest score. Conclusion: Appetite impairment was associated with the global health and QoL of cancer patients in oncologic treatment.