Table 3. Retrospective analysis: Quality of life and symptom intensity over time towards death.
| Time to death (in months)§ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period 1 (≥6) (n patients = 369)† |
Period 2 (5–3) (n patients = 442)† |
Period 3 (2–0) (n patients = 675)† |
Δ Period 2 and period 1 | Δ Period 3 and period 2 | Δ Period 3 and period 1 | |
| Estimated mean (95% CI) |
Estimated mean (95% CI) |
Estimated mean (95% CI) |
Mean difference (p-value) |
Mean difference (p-value) |
Mean difference (p-value) |
|
| Overall QoL± | 57.62 (53.32;61.92) |
51.44 (47.19;55.68) |
43.83 (39.60;48.07) |
-6 (< .001) |
-8 (< .001) |
-14 (< .001) |
| Emotional functioning± | 73.74 (68.45;79.03) |
71.49 (66.25;76.72) |
66.49 (61.27;71.72) |
-2 (.078) |
-5 (< .001) |
-7 (< .001) |
| Physical functioning± | 67.73 (62.11;73.34) |
61.20 (55.71;66.70) |
49.82 (44.35;55.29) |
-7 (.005) |
-11 (< .001) |
-18 (< .001) |
| Symptoms± | ||||||
| Pain | 33.77 (29.28;38.26) |
39.94 (35.49;44.39) |
45.72 (41.28;50.16) |
+6 (.002) |
+6 (.003) |
+12 (< .001) |
| Fatigue | 43.54 (38.62;48.46) |
50.42 (45.56;55.28) |
59.80 (54.95;64.65) |
+7 (< .001) |
+9 (< .001) |
+16 (< .001) |
| Nausea/vomiting | 14.93 (10.61;19.25) |
17.10 (12.88;21.32) |
19.61 (15.44;23.78) |
+2 (.247) |
+3 (.156) |
+5 (.016) |
| Dyspnea | 24.49 (18.27;30.71) |
27.05 (20.90;33.20) |
33.72 (27.59;39.85) |
+3 (.085) |
+7 (< .001) |
+9 (< .001) |
| Insomnia | 25.38 (20.39;30.37) |
25.63 (20.73;30.52) |
31.57 (26.71;36.43) |
+0 (.901) |
+6 (.002) |
+6 (.003) |
| Appetite loss | 26.89 (21.63;32.15) |
34.76 (29.60;39.91) |
43.94 (38.80;49.07) |
+8 (< .001) |
+9 (< .001) |
+17 (< .001) |
| Constipation | 25.33 (21.17;29.48) |
26.08 (22.04;30.13) |
30.86 (26.80;34.92) |
+1 (.593) |
+5 (.001) |
+6 (.001) |
Abbrevations: QoL, quality of life CI, confidence interval
§ Linear mixed model analyses were performed with repeated measures on patients nested in hospitals, and hospitals in countries.
± Scores were linearly converted into a 0–100 scale according to the EORTC guidelines, with higher values representing better quality of life, better functioning and higher symptom intensity.
† ≥1 assessment per patient possible.