Table 2.
QLQ-C30:Scores of Quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer during antineoplastic treatment (n = 63)
| Quality of Life domains | T0 | T1 | T2 | p-value | ∆ T1-T0 n (%) |
∆ T2-T1 n (%) |
∆ T2-T0 n (%) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) | Median (p25-p75) | Mean (SD) | Median (p25-p75) | Mean (SD) | Median (p25-p75) | ≥ ± 10 score points n (%) |
||||
| Global health status | 67.46 (20.61) | 66.66 (50.00–83.33) | 69.31 (21.62) | 66.66 (50.00–83.33) | 61.12 (21.40) | 66.66 (50.00–83.33) | 0.622 | 13 (20.6) | 20 (31.7) | 18 (21.6) |
| Physical function | 80.39 (19.26) | 90 (65–100) | 81.19 (18.24) | 85 (70–100) | 79.12 (18.82) | 80 (60–100) | 0.909 | 16 (25.4) | 18 (28.6) | 22 (34.9) |
| Role function | 79.36 (30.92) | 100 (66.66–100) | 70.10 (35.05) | 83.33 (50–100) | 67.98 (32.83) | 66.66 (50–100) | 0.009 | 23 (36.5) | 21 (33.3) | 29 (46.0) |
| Emotional function | 68.12 (29.31) | 75 (41.66–91.66) | 69.84 (29.19) | 75 (50–100) | 69.70 (28.60) | 75 (50–100) | 0.986 | 19 (30.2) | 18 (28.6) | 19 (30.2) |
| Cognitive function | 78.04 (29.45) | 100 (50–100) | 80.42 (27.19) | 100 (66.66–100) | 83.86 (27.10) | 100 (83.33–100) | 0.035 | 12 (19.0) | 11 (17.5) | 8 (12.7) |
| Social function | 85.44 (24.40) | 100 (66.66–100) | 80.95 (29.00) | 100 (66.66–100) | 81.48 (29.65) | 100 (66.66–100) | 0.619 | 17 (27.0) | 11 (17.5) | 17 (27.0) |
| Fatigue | 27.51 (31.03) | 11.11 (0.0–44.44) | 32.62 (29.65) | 22.22 (11.11–55.55) | 30.15 (28.46) | 22.22 (0.0–44.44) | 0.010a | 30 (47.6) | 28 (44.4) | 33 (52.4) |
| Nausea and vomiting | 8.46 (20.71) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 19.57 (24.04) | 16.66 (0.0–33.33) | 13.22 (25.07) | 0.0 (0.0–16.66) | < 0.001b | 30 (47.6) | 9 (14.3) | 15 (23.8) |
| Pain | 32.27 (33.84) | 16.66 (0.0–50) | 30.68 (28.74) | 33 (0.0–50) | 27.77 (31.82) | 16.66 (0.0–50) | 0.799 | 23 (36.5) | 20 (31.7) | 22 (34.9) |
| Dyspnoea | 11.11 (26.77) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 13.22 (29.04) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 13.22 (27.78) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 0.821 | 8 (12.7) | 8 (12.7) | 9 (14.3) |
| Insomnia | 29.10 (39.02) | 0.0 (0.0–66.66) | 22.22 (35.92) | 0.0 (0.0–33.33) | 25.39 (37.25) | 0.0 (0.0–66.66) | 0.630 | 10 (15.9) | 13 (20.6) | 11 (17.5) |
| Appetite loss | 25.92 (36.63) | 0.0 (0.0–66.66) | 43.91 (44.32) | 33.33 (0.0–100) | 35.97 (43.29) | 0.0 (0.0–100) | 0.015 | 28 (44.4) | 12 (19.0) | 23 (36.5) |
| Constipation | 24.86 (38.31) | 0.0 (0.0–33.33) | 39.15 (41.71) | 33.33 (0.0–100) | 37.03 (41.95) | 33.33 (0.0–66.66) | 0.023 | 24 (38.1) | 18 (28.6) | 21 (33.3) |
| Diarrhea | 1.05 (5.89) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 6.34 (20.61) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 6.34 (23.07) | 0.0 (0.0–0.0) | 0.190 | 7 (11.1) | 5 (7.9) | 6 (9.5) |
| Financial difficulties | 34.39 (41.02) | 0.0 (0.0–66.66) | 34.92 (42.09) | 0.0 (0.0–100) | 39.68 (43.93) | 33.33 (0.0–100) | 0.744 | 14 (22.2) | 14 (22.2) | 19 (30.2) |
P-values followed by letters differed statistically according to the post hoc test at the 5% probability level (Friedman test and Dunn post hoc test ajusted by Bonferroni: a difference between T0 and T2; b difference between T0 and T1. ∆ T1-T0, ∆ T2-T1 and ∆ T2-T0 ≥ 10 or ≤ −10 score points: clinically significant negative difference