Health-related quality of life of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: The objectives were to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, to identify the domains affected, and to correlate them with socio-demographic and clinical-therapeutic data of the sample. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study performed with 152 patients between 2007 and 2011. The instruments Quality of Life Questionnaire- Core30 and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. Results: Quality of life (QoL) was considered satisfactory (mean= 74.91). The domains affected were: emotional and functional function, pain, fatigue, insomnia, and loss of appetite. According to the BDI, 9.2 % of the patients had depression and 14.5 % dysphoria. It was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) with the following correlations: women had worse scores for cognitive function; patients aged between 40 and 60 years reported more diarrhea and major financial difficulties; retirees and housewives reported better QoL; patients with gastric, lung, neurological, and skin cancer had more fatigue and dyspnea; those with metastasis reported poorer physical functioning; patients who underwent surgery to remove tumor and palliative had worse scores for QoL, physical, emotional, cognitive, and social function, besides presenting more nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, insomnia, loss of appetite, and constipation; patients undergoing radiotherapy reported more pain than others; and some chemotherapy protocols worsened the social function and caused fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Conclusion: The cancer and its treatment somehow affected patients, causing more symptoms and deficits of the performed functions, worsening their HRQoL.