Change in Quality of Life Measured over Time in Czech Women with Breast Cancer.
2016
Background: This study examined the impact of breast cancer on
quality of life (QOL) of Czech women by comparing the QOL of
breast cancer patients with that of age-matched healthy
controls. Methods: The sample consisted of 74 breast cancer
patients who fi lled in self-assessment questionnaires
retrospectively before treatment and at the time of the study.
In addition, 73 healthy controls completed the same battery of
questionnaires. QOL was assessed using the Rand 36-Item Health
Survey, the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Czech
research version of Functional Assessment of Breast Cancer
Therapy. The Wilcoxon paired test and Mann-Whitney U test were
used for data analysis. Results: A statistically signifi cant
decline in QOL in breast cancer patients was found for the
following components: Physical Functioning (p = 0.021), Role
Functioning-Physical (p < 0.001), Bodily Pain (p = 0.001),
General Health (p = 0.031), Role Functioning-Emotional (p =
0.023), and Physical Well-being (p = 0.001). The only signifi
cant increase over time was observed in Social/Family
Well-being (p = 0.024). For most of the components, patients
showed a statistically signifi cant lower QOL than that of
healthy controls. A recent diagnosis, advanced disease stage,
more comorbidities, a higher BMI, and other sociodemographic
characteristics were associated with a higher incidence of a
lower QOL over time. Conclusion: Perceived QOL decreased over
time in breast cancer patients mainly in components such as
physical and emotional functioning, bodily pain, and general
health, with several risk factors strongly infl uencing this
change. The QOL of patients was lower than that of the
non-cancer population, indicating that subsequent care should
be improved to minimize the adverse eff ects that breast cancer
has on QOL.
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