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Changes in short-term health-related quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncologic laparotomy: an associated factor analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of gynecologic cancer patients undergoing laparotomy.

Methods

Women who underwent laparotomy by gynecologic cancer completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of life questionnaires (QLQ‐C30 and QLQ‐OV28) presurgery and at 1 month.

Results

Of the 181 women studied between January 2007 and March 2008, 116 women (64.1 %) had ovarian cancer, 27 (14.9 %) had cervical cancer, and 29 (16.0 %) had endometrial cancer. By 1 month post-surgery, there was a significant decrease in HR-QOL on the global, abdominal/gastrointestinal (GI) score, body image, chemotherapy side effects, and other single items of the OV28 questionnaire, as well as on physical, role and social functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, constipation, appetite loss, and financial difficulties items on C30 questionnaires. Emotional functioning on C30 questionnaires was significantly improved 1 month after surgery. The majority of these items persisted 1 month after surgery only in patients with ovarian cancer. Abdominal/GI score on OV28 questionnaires as well as role and physical functioning on C30 questionnaires were significantly lower between baseline and postsurgical HR-QOL in women with other gynecologic malignancies.

Conclusion

The results suggest a significant impact of HR-QOL among gynecologic cancer patients 1 month after laparotomy, particularly among those with ovarian cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Carmen Beltrami, RN; Emanuella D’Anna; and all the nursing staff of the Gynecologic Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy for their active participation in the execution of this study. Finally, the authors recognize the great efforts made by Anna Attanasio (Anesthesiology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy) and Maira Bigioggero (data manager, Gynecologic Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy) in retrieving the data. This research was supported, in part, by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Lucas Minig & Angelo Maggioni

  2. Gynecology Oncology Program, Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro, Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Calle Oña 10, 28050, Madrid, Spain

    Lucas Minig

  3. Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Edward L. Trimble

  4. Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jorge Iván Vélez

  5. Abdomino-Pelvic Surgery Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Roberto Biffi

  6. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defence (Health Affairs), TRICARE Management Activity, Health Program Analysis and Evaluation, Department of Defense, Falls Church, VA, 22041-3206, USA

    Diana D. Jeffery

Authors
  1. Lucas Minig
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  2. Jorge Iván Vélez
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  3. Edward L. Trimble
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  4. Roberto Biffi
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  5. Angelo Maggioni
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  6. Diana D. Jeffery
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucas Minig.

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Minig, L., Vélez, J.I., Trimble, E.L. et al. Changes in short-term health-related quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncologic laparotomy: an associated factor analysis. Support Care Cancer 21, 715–726 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1571-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1571-z

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