Higher Mental Component Summary Research Articles

Abstract 3707: Baseline quality of life and genetic determinants and the impact on five-year lung cancer survival

Abstract Patient-reported health-related quality of life (QOL) is an important part of a cancer patient's treatment plan and has been linked to overall cancer survival. We aimed to identify the impact of QOL and potential genetic factors on five-year lung cancer survival using a lung cancer patient cohort from MD Anderson Cancer Center. QOL data was obtained from the SF-12 questionnaire. Patient responses were used to calculate Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, with a lower score indicating a worse QOL. Mean baseline QOL scores were calculated for demographic factors in 7,135 patients, and individuals with a college degree (PCS = 42.0, compared to less than a high school degree PCS = 35.1, P<0.0001), current alcohol drinkers (PCS = 42.0, compared to never drinkers PCS = 37.3, P<0.0001), and those with no significant medical history (PCS = 40.8, compared to a significant history PCS = 38.4, P<0.0001) reported an improved PCS. Individuals greater than 70 years old (MCS = 47.8, compared to those less than 50 MCS = 45.2, P<0.0001), with a college degree (MCS = 48.0, compared to less than a high school degree MCS = 45.2, P<0.0001), Asian Pacific Islanders (MCS = 48.5, compared to whites MCS = 46.3, P = 0.033), and current alcohol drinkers (MCS = 47.4, compared to never drinkers MCS = 45.9, P<0.0001) reported a better MCS. We then analyzed the association between baseline QOL and lung cancer survival using survival data obtained from MD Anderson Tumor Registry. A PCS or MCS score less than 50 was associated with an increased risk of five-year mortality (HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.08-1.33, P = 0.001; HR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.03-1.24, P = 0.008, respectively) and there was a significant difference between median survival time (MST) (PCS≥50 MST = 30.42 months, PCS<50 MST = 20.70 months, Plog-rank<0.0001) (MCS≥50 MST = 26.12 months, MCS<50 MST = 20.17 months, Plog-rank<0.0001). Finally, using a subset of the study population (N = 588), we completed a preliminary analysis of 218 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, activated in response to cellular and environmental stress, as a potential genetic determinant of QOL and five-year lung cancer survival. Using a score of 50 as the cut-off, twenty-five SNPs were associated with PCS, twenty-three SNPs were associated with MCS, and 28 SNPs were associated with five-year lung cancer survival (P<0.05). Individuals with at least one variant allele of rs2715815 in MAP2K6 showed a decreased risk of poor PCS and MCS score (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.26-0.90, P = 0.022; OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.22-0.76, P = 0.005, respectively). At least one variant allele of FASLG: rs5030772 was associated with a decreased risk of poor MCS score (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.27-0.96, P = 0.038) and a decreased risk of lung cancer death (HR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.46-1.00, P = 0.049). These findings suggest that baseline QOL in lung cancer patients as well as genetic determinants may impact lung cancer survival. Citation Format: Jeanne A. Pierzynski, Michelle A. Hildebrandt, Yuanqing Ye, Jack A. Roth, Xifeng Wu. Baseline quality of life and genetic determinants and the impact on five-year lung cancer survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3707. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3707

The impact of job stressors on health-related quality of life of nursing assistants in long-term care settings

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between various job stressors and health-related quality of life among female nursing assistants working in long-term care facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Taiwan. Data were collected using a structured, well-designed, pre-tested questionnaire with background questions and questions about job stressors and health-related quality of life as measured by SF-12. Our empirical results show that nursing assistants with higher scores for job control and work-related social support tend to enjoy better mental health, as indicated by higher mental component summary scores. Additionally, nursing assistants with higher psychological demand scores tend to have worse overall health, as indicated by lower physical component summary and mental component summary scores. We suggest reducing selected job stressors and enhancing job control to improve nursing assistants' health-related quality of life.

Formal Employment and Health-Related Quality of Life among People Living with HIV in South Africa

This study examined the link between formal employment and characteristics of the workplace (especially awareness of workplace HIV policies and HIV status disclosure to work colleagues) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). The study analysed medical treatment and employment history since first being diagnosed as HIV-positive among 554 adults, 55 % females, who had been on HIV treatment for at least 2 years in South Africa. Additional cross-sectional data on HRQoL were collected using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) (QualityMetric Incorporated). Two hundred and forty four (44 %) of the study participants (39 % and 49 % among males and females, respectively) were formally employed at the study interview. Formally employed study participants reported higher HRQoL than those not formally employed, as reflected in mean scores in the physical and mental component summaries of the SF-36 instrument. HRQoL was unrelated to study participants’ CD4 count, viral load and duration since HIV diagnosis. Among the formally employed study participants, 27.9 % reported awareness of workplace HIV policies in their organisations, while 50.8 % said they had disclosed their HIV status to work colleagues. The awareness of workplace HIV policies was associated with higher mental component summary scores after controlling for study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, but had no significant association with the physical component summary scores. The disclosure of HIV status to work colleagues was associated with neither mental nor physical component summary scores. The finding of a positive association between formal employment and HRQoL among PLHIV suggest the need for facilitative interventions for employment entry and continuation among PLHIV for their wellbeing.

Changes and Factors Influencing Health-related Quality of Life After Hysterectomy in Premenopausal Women with Benign Gynecologic Conditions

A hysterectomy affects a woman's health. This study was performed to identify the factors that affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after hysterectomy in premenopausal women. This prospective follow-up study recruited 38 women (age range, 33-52 years) who underwent abdominal hysterectomy for nonmalignant causes. SF-36 and self-rated health status were used to assess HRQoL before and after hysterectomy. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests and the generalized estimating equation method for modeling the repeatedly measured responses. Patients' attitudes toward hysterectomy and subsequent sexual activity were influenced by the surgery. All patients showed significant improvements in the physical component summary (PCS) of SF-36 (mean, 42.1-51.0), but there was no significant difference in the mental component summary (MCS). The significant improvements were found from the five repeated measurements of the self-rated health status (mean, 6.0-7.3). Hemoglobin level was the most important predictor of HRQoL before surgery. Women in employment, with more years of education and previous blood transfusion had high MCS scores after surgery. The overall self-rated health status and PCS showed significant improvements after hysterectomy. Having had a blood transfusion, being educated and employed were positively associated with MCS score after surgery. These findings are vital for preoperative counseling for women undergoing hysterectomy.