Faculty Collaboration Database

EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL quality of life score as a prognostic indicator of survival in patients with far advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer 2014 Jul;22(7):1941-8

Date

03/01/2014

Pubmed ID

24577883

DOI

10.1007/s00520-014-2173-8

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84902367755 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   35 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Quality of life (QoL) and performance status predict survival in advanced cancer patients; these relationships have not been explored in the hospice palliative care setting. The aim of this study was to examine the survival predictability of patient-reported QoL using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire in far advanced cancer inpatients at the very end of life.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients reported QoL using the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL. One hundred sixty-two inpatients in hospice palliative wards of six hospitals in South Korea were followed until death or the end of the study. Additional symptoms and performance status were assessed by the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Korean (MDASI-K), Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Correlations between EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, MDASI-K, PPS, and ECOG were assessed. Survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS: Patients' median survival was less than 1 month. Physician-reported PPS significantly predicted survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.493; p<0.001). From the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, patient-reported physical functioning predicted survival (HR=0.65; p<0.001). Other six domains of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL were significantly related to survival after adjustment. Those domains were global health status, emotional functioning, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, appetite loss, and constipation.

CONCLUSIONS: EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL can be an independent prognostic factor in inpatients with far advanced cancer. Patient-reported physical functioning showed survival predictability as good as physician-reported performance status. It is notable that the QLQ instrument is useful even for patients in their final month of life. Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome-related symptoms may be independent prognostic symptoms. Prospective study is warranted.

Author List

Lee YJ, Suh SY, Choi YS, Shim JY, Seo AR, Choi SE, Ahn HY, Yim E

Author

Eunji Yim MD Assistant Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Health Status
Hospice Care
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms
Palliative Care
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Quality of Life
Republic of Korea
Retrospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires