Quality of Life of Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has numerous physical, psychosocial and financial implications, which significantly affect patients' quality of life. We aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and identify quality of life (QoL) predictors in patients with OSCC.

Methods: We included 64 consecutive patients aged 40 to 80 yr treated for OSCC from Jan to Dec 2021. Health-related QoL was evaluated using the 30-item Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the 35-item Head and Neck Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-H&N35). The demographic questionnaire and clinical parameters were also presented.

Results: The functioning scale in the QLQ-C30 questionnaire with the lowest average score was Global health status. The mean QLQ-C30 summary score (80.92 ± 10.4) was higher than the Global health status score (50.5 ± 22.2). In the QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire, the symptoms with highest scores were weight loss, dry mouth, and social eating. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that Global health status score was associated with education level [β-coefficient = 19.33 (95% CI: 10.7-24.9, P=0.004], alcohol consumption [β-coefficient=10.04 (95% CI: 4.5-14.8), P=0.023] and invasive surgical procedure [β-coefficient=22.75 (95% CI: 15.0-30.5), P=0.002]. The QLQ-C30 summary score was associated with living alone [β-coefficient= -20.05 (95% CI: −29.91-(−10.21), P=0.018], smoking status [β-coefficient=4.35 (95% CI: 1.8-6.91), P=0.043] and alcohol consumption [β-coefficient =4.59 (95% CI: 1.99-7.19), P=0.037].

Conclusion: We found several significant predictors of worse perception of HRQoL among patients with OSCC, which may be useful for specific prevention and treatment in order to achieve better QoL.