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Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients in India

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Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among breast cancer patients during various phases of treatment and with different treatment modalities, which helps in monitoring treatment outcomes, assessing the well-being of patients, and conducting health technology assessments.

Methods

A total of 534 interviews were conducted among the patients of breast cancer recruited at different stages of disease and with different treatment modalities. HRQoL was determined using EuroQoL five dimensions questionnaire with five levels (EQ-5D-5L), EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS), and the EORTC QLQ-BR23 instrument. The utility values were determined based on the Indian EQ-5D-5L value set. The socio-demographic and clinico-therapeutic determinants of HRQoL were evaluated using multiple linear regression.

Results

The mean utility value of breast cancer patients was 0.602 (SD = 0.311) and mean EQ VAS score was 75 (SD = 12.3). The mean utility value at diagnosis was 0.628, whereas utility value was 0.55, 0.595, and 0.64 for post-surgery, post-chemotherapy, and post-radiotherapy treatment groups, respectively. The most frequently reported problem was pain/discomfort (in 84.3% patients), followed by anxiety/depression (83.5%). On EORTC QLQ-BR23, the maximum symptom scale scores for systemic therapy side effects were reported in the post chemotherapy group. The body image score and future perspective score were better in patients undergoing breast conservative surgery (BCS) compared to patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy. Age, education, and employment status of the patient, type of treatment modality, and use of taxanes are the determinants of HRQoL in breast cancer patients.

Conclusion

Clinical interventions should focus upon management of pain and anxiety. BCS should be offered to all eligible patients as it is associated with better HRQoL. Addressing the factors that independently affect the HRQoL will help in improving the treatment compliance and outcomes.

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Funding

The study was funded by Department of Science and Technology and Renewable Energy, Chandigarh Administration vide grant number S&T&RE/RP/147/(19–20)/Sanc/10/2019/1703–1710, dated 31.10.2019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India

    Nidhi Gupta, Awadhesh Kumar Pandey & Kislay Dimri

  2. Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Gaurav Jyani, Aarti Goyal & Shankar Prinja

Authors
  1. Nidhi Gupta
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  2. Awadhesh Kumar Pandey
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  6. Shankar Prinja
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Contributions

Conceptualization: NG, SP.

Methodology: NG, SP, GJ, AG.

Formal analysis and investigation: NG, SP, GJ, AG.

Writing—original draft preparation: NG.

Writing—review and editing: All authors.

Funding acquisition: NG.

Resources: All authors.

Supervision: NG, SP.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shankar Prinja.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Gupta, N., Pandey, A.K., Dimri, K. et al. Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients in India. Support Care Cancer 30, 9983–9990 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07395-7

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