Table 4.
Hierarchical linear model analysis conducted with the oropharynx HPV-negative patients (n = 100)
| Independent variables | GC-RS factor | HNC-RS factor | SIDA factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| b (95% CI) | b (95% CI) | b (95% CI) | |
| Gender | -1.21 (-2.76; 0.33)ns | -1.39 (-2.96; 0.17)ns | -1.43 (-3.73; 0.88)ns |
| Age | 0.03 (-0.10; 0.15)ns | 0.07 (-0.05; 0.20)ns | 0.09 (-009; 0.28)ns |
| Educational level | -0.35 (-1.95; 1.26)ns | 0.28 (-1.34; 1.90)ns | -0.68 (-3.08; 1.72)ns |
| Employment status | -0.55 (-3.98; 2.89)ns | 0.41 (-3.07; 3.89)ns | 1.17 (-3.96; 6.31)ns |
| ECOG | -0.36 (-1.96; 1.24)ns | -0.46 (-2.07; 1.16)ns | -0.16 (-2.55; 2.23)ns |
| Smoker | 0.01 (-1.88; 1.90)ns | -0.93 (-2.83; 0.97)ns | -0.26 (-3.07; 2.55)ns |
| Alcohol use | -0.30 (-2.58; 1.98)ns | 1.36 (-0.94; 3.66)ns | 0.74 (-2.66; 4.14)ns |
| Surgery | 0.07 (-2.28; 2.43)ns | 0.04 (-2.34; 2.41)ns | 0.91 (-2.60; 4.43)ns |
| Chemotherapy | 0.87 (-1.75; 3.49)ns | 0.28 (-2.36; 2.92)ns | 0.61 (-3.30; 4.52)ns |
| Time | |||
| Linear effect | 0.35 (0.22; 0.49)*** | 0.58 (0.39; 0.77)*** | 0.51 (0.32; 0.70)*** |
| Quadratic effect | -0.02 (-0.03; -0.01)*** | -0.03 (-0.04; -0.02)*** | -0.03 (-0.04; -0.02)*** |
| Cubic effect | 0.0003(0.0002; 0.0004)*** | 0.0004 (0.0002; 0.0005)*** | 0.0004 (0.0002; 0.0005)*** |
GC-RS, general cancer-related symptoms; HNC-RS, head and neck cancer-related symptoms; SIDA, symptom interference with daily activities; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; HPV, human papilloma virus; CI, confidence interval; ns, not significant; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 (two-tailed)