Health-related quality of life in patients with endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (EORTC QLQ-C30) and levels of anxiety and depression (HADS) were investigated in patients with endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract treated with interferon and/or a somatostatin analogue. In addition, patient perceptions of the importance of and satisfaction with some HRQOL aspects were studied. QOL was perceived as quite good, but more than half of the patients reported diarrhoea. The levels of anxiety and depression were low. Patients perceived physical HRQOL aspects as most important for a good QOL and stated the highest satisfaction with some social aspects. Patients who reported high levels of anxiety or depression were less satisfied with several HRQOL aspects, had more health problems, and a lower level of functioning on several of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales and single items. Neither demographic nor medical background variables seemed to have an influence on the results. The relatively high QOL could be explained by the fact that most patients had had their treatment for a long period and thus had time to adjust to the situation.