Factors associated with baseline quality of life in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.

Abstract

e18079 Background: Baseline quality of life (QOL) predicts for survival in head and neck cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to baseline QOL in patients with newly diagnosed oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer (OCOPC) in order to identify potential targets for intervention. Methods: 115 patients with OCOPC completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS). Pearson correlation and ANOVA statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The median global health-related QOL score was 66.7 (IQR: 50, 83.4); 35.7% of participants reported anxiety and 18.3% reported depressive symptoms (HADS ≥8); 30.8% of patients had BHLS values of ≤ 9. Factors associated with significant decrease in global health-related QOL score: household income of < $20,000/year (p = .010); low health literacy (p = .021); having symptoms of anxiety (p < .001); having depressive symptoms (p < .001); and non-HPV associated cancer (p < .001). Increased tumor stage, older age, single/widowed marital status, and unemployment were associated with the lower scores on the physical QOL subscale (p < .05). Increased tumor stage was associated with lower scores on role and social QOL subscales (p < .05), and younger age was associated with lower scores on emotional QOL subscale (p < .05). Conclusions: Baseline QOL is associated with socioeconomic and disease-related determinants. Clinical trial information: NCT02412241.