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Health-related quality of life and pelvic floor dysfunction in advanced-stage ovarian cancer survivors: associations with objective activity behaviors and physiological characteristics

Supportive Care in Cancer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), and modifiable lifestyle and physiological factors for ovarian cancer survivors (OCS). The primary aim of the study was to compare post-treatment advanced-stage OCS with age-matched controls on measures of HRQoL and PFD. The secondary aim was to examine associations between HRQoL, PFD, objective activity behaviors, physical function, and body composition in OCS.

Methods

Twenty advanced-stage OCS and 20 controls completed questionnaires assessing HRQoL (SF-36) and PFD (Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire), and underwent objective assessments of activity behavior (7-day accelerometry), physical function (400-m walk, repeated chair rise, 6-m usual-pace walk, one-repetition maximum chest press, and single-leg extension), and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry).

Results

Compared to controls, OCS had worse physical HRQoL (− 4.3 median difference, p = 0.013), but equivalent self-reported PFD, indicated by combined bladder, bowel, and pelvic organ prolapse symptoms (0.89 mean difference, p = 0.277). In OCS, physical HRQoL was significantly negatively associated with PFD (r = 0.468, p = 0.043). Decreased physical HRQoL and increased PFD were significantly associated with less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in ≥ 10-min bouts (ρ = 0.627, p = 0.003; ρ = − 0.457, p = 0.049), more sedentary time (r = − 0.449, p = 0.047; r = 0.479, p = 0.038), and slower 400-m walk time (ρ = − 0.565, p = 0.022; ρ = 0.504, p = 0.028).

Conclusions

Post-treatment advanced-stage OCS have decreased physical HRQoL, which is associated with modifiable factors such as worse PFD, less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, more sedentary time, and decreased objective physical function. This highlights the need for ongoing supportive care and multidisciplinary interventions after first-line ovarian cancer treatment.

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Funding

Dr. Paul A. Cohen receives salary support from the Jakovich Family and the St John of God Foundation.

Prof Daniel A. Galvão is supported by a Cancer Council of Western Australia Research Fellowship.

Dr. Carolyn J. Peddle-McIntyre is supported by a Cancer Council of Western Australia Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Christelle Schofield, Robert U. Newton, Daniel A. Galvão & Carolyn J. Peddle-McIntyre

  2. UQ Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia

    Robert U. Newton

  3. St John of God Hospital Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Level 5, 12 Salvado Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia

    Paul A. Cohen, Ganendra R. Mohan, Jason Tan & Stuart G. Salfinger

  4. Division of Women’s and Infants’ Health, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia

    Paul A. Cohen, Ganendra R. Mohan, Jason Tan & Stuart G. Salfinger

  5. Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 6160, WA, Australia

    Paul A. Cohen

  6. School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Joanne A. McVeigh

  7. Exercise Laboratory, School of Physiology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa

    Joanne A. McVeigh

  8. School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 6160, WA, Australia

    Ganendra R. Mohan, Jason Tan & Stuart G. Salfinger

  9. Hollywood Medical Centre Suite 32, Level 1 / 85 Monash Avenue, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia

    Ganendra R. Mohan

  10. WOMEN Centre, Suite 20, 2 McCourt Street, West Leederville, WA, 6007, Australia

    Jason Tan

  11. St John of God Hospital, The Consulting Suite (H203), 12 Salvado Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia

    Stuart G. Salfinger

  12. School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia

    Leon M. Straker

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  1. Christelle Schofield
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  2. Robert U. Newton
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  3. Paul A. Cohen
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  4. Daniel A. Galvão
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  5. Joanne A. McVeigh
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  6. Ganendra R. Mohan
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  10. Carolyn J. Peddle-McIntyre
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christelle Schofield.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Schofield, C., Newton, R.U., Cohen, P.A. et al. Health-related quality of life and pelvic floor dysfunction in advanced-stage ovarian cancer survivors: associations with objective activity behaviors and physiological characteristics. Support Care Cancer 26, 2239–2246 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4069-5

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