PCN456 REAL WORLD HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE (HRQOL) FOR FIRST LINE RECURRENT/ METASTATIC SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK (R/M SCCHN) PATIENTS

Abstract

This study described HRQoL R/M SCCHN patients receiving first line (1L) treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Italy and Spain between October 2018 and February 2019. Oncologists completed chart review forms for R/M SCCHN patients, who were invited to complete patient self-completion forms (PSC). The PSC included the European Quality of Life 5 Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L/3L crosswalk; utility scores range =-0.594-1, higher scores indicating better health status) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Head and Neck Cancer (FACT-H&N) (score range FACT-G: 0-108, FACT-H&N: 0-148; higher scores indicating better HRQoL). 164 1L R/M SCCHN patients completed the PSC. Mean age was 64 years (SD=8.9), 69% were male. At the time of data collection, 67% had been on treatment <3 months, 19% 3-6 months and 14% >6 months. Most patients (90%) had an ECOG performance status of 0-1 at time of data collection. Mean EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.65 (SD=0.20). The mean EQ5D VAS for Italy was 57.5 (SD=16.87) and 50.7 for Spain (SD=18.23), versus 77.1 and 75.0 for respective countries’ population norms. Patients experienced varying degrees of difficulty in each of the five dimensions such as problems doing usual activities (56.7%), pain/discomfort (81.1%) and anxiety/depression (73.8%). Mean FACT-G score was 53.0 (SD=12.25), compared to published patient data for various advanced cancers in Europe (61.5, SD=4.97) and all cancers in the US (80.1, SD=18.1). Mean FACT-H&N score was 72.3 (SD=14.8). R/M SCCHN patients experienced varying degrees of difficulty with swallowing (100%), breathing (63.4%), pain in the mouth, throat or neck (90.2%) and dry mouth (92.1%) 1L R/M SCCHN patients reported poor HRQoL, particularly in comparison to other cancer patient populations. This indicates unmet need in the management of 1L R/M SCCHN patients and the importance of considering novel approaches that preserve HRQoL.