Quality of Life of Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Maja Milosevic  Markovic; Milan  Petrovic; Milan  Latas; Igor  Djordjevic; Srdjan  Milovanovic; Svetlana  Jovanovic

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i2.14926

Maja Milosevic Markovic Department of Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Milan Petrovic Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Milan Latas Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Igor Djordjevic Clinic for Prosthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Srdjan Milovanovic Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Svetlana Jovanovic Department of Public Health, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i2.14926

Keywords: Mouth neoplasms; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Health-related quality of life; Questionnaires and surveys

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has numerous physical, psychosocial and financial implications, which significantly affect patients' quality of life. We aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and identify quality of life (QoL) predictors in patients with OSCC.

Methods: We included 64 consecutive patients aged 40 to 80 yr treated for OSCC from Jan to Dec 2021. Health-related QoL was evaluated using the 30-item Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the 35-item Head and Neck Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-H&N35). The demographic questionnaire and clinical parameters were also presented.

Results: The functioning scale in the QLQ-C30 questionnaire with the lowest average score was Global health status. The mean QLQ-C30 summary score (80.92 ± 10.4) was higher than the Global health status score (50.5 ± 22.2). In the QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire, the symptoms with highest scores were weight loss, dry mouth, and social eating. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that Global health status score was associated with education level [β-coefficient = 19.33 (95% CI: 10.7-24.9, P=0.004], alcohol consumption [β-coefficient=10.04 (95% CI: 4.5-14.8), P=0.023] and invasive surgical procedure [β-coefficient=22.75 (95% CI: 15.0-30.5), P=0.002]. The QLQ-C30 summary score was associated with living alone [β-coefficient= -20.05 (95% CI: −29.91-(−10.21), P=0.018], smoking status [β-coefficient=4.35 (95% CI: 1.8-6.91), P=0.043] and alcohol consumption [β-coefficient =4.59 (95% CI: 1.99-7.19), P=0.037].

Conclusion: We found several significant predictors of worse perception of HRQoL among patients with OSCC, which may be useful for specific prevention and treatment in order to achieve better QoL.