Daniel Clasen1, Judith Keszte1, Andreas Dietz2, Jens Oeken3, Eberhard F Meister4, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius5, Friedemann Pabst6, Jens Büntzel7, Eva-Maria Jenzewski8, Susanne Singer9, Alexandra Meyer1. 1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Division Psychosocial Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. 3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Center Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany. 4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Center St. Georg, Leipzig, Germany. 5. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. 6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Center Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany. 7. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Center Südharz Nordhausen, Nordhausen, Germany. 8. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Center Carl Thiem Cottbus, Cottbus, Germany. 9. University Medical Centre Mainz, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI), Mainz, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This prospective study was conducted to assess changes in quality of life (QOL) of patients who undergo a partial laryngectomy. METHODS: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires Core and Head and Neck (EORTC-QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N35) were used preprocedure (n = 218), 1 week (n = 159), 3 months (n = 122), and 1 year after partial laryngectomy (n = 88). Changes over time were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Holm-Bonferroni method, and interpreted regarding clinical relevance. RESULTS: Most subscales worsened 1 week postprocedure, but many recovered to baseline level after 1 year. Dyspnea and cognitive functioning deteriorated over time, with worst scores recorded after 1 year. Financial difficulties and fatigue increased after surgery and maintained that level throughout the follow-up period; sticky saliva remained worse than at baseline, despite some improvements over time. CONCLUSION: The discovered limitations of QOL should be observed more closely during follow-up treatment, and patients should be informed about these potential effects before partial laryngectomy.
BACKGROUND: This prospective study was conducted to assess changes in quality of life (QOL) of patients who undergo a partial laryngectomy. METHODS: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires Core and Head and Neck (EORTC-QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N35) were used preprocedure (n = 218), 1 week (n = 159), 3 months (n = 122), and 1 year after partial laryngectomy (n = 88). Changes over time were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Holm-Bonferroni method, and interpreted regarding clinical relevance. RESULTS: Most subscales worsened 1 week postprocedure, but many recovered to baseline level after 1 year. Dyspnea and cognitive functioning deteriorated over time, with worst scores recorded after 1 year. Financial difficulties and fatigue increased after surgery and maintained that level throughout the follow-up period; sticky saliva remained worse than at baseline, despite some improvements over time. CONCLUSION: The discovered limitations of QOL should be observed more closely during follow-up treatment, and patients should be informed about these potential effects before partial laryngectomy.