Health-related quality of life in patients with endocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (EORTC QLQ-C30) and levels of anxiet y and depression (HADS) were investigated in patients with endocrine rumour s of the gastrointestinal tract treated with interferon and/or a somatostat in analogue. In addition, patient perceptions of the importance of and sati sfaction with some HRQOL aspects were studied. QOL was perceived as quite g ood, but more than half of the patients reported diarrhoea. The levels of a nxiety and depression were low. Patients perceived physical HRQOL aspects a s most important for a good QOL and stated the highest satisfaction with so me social aspects. Patients who reported high levels of anxiety or depressi on were less satisfied with several HRQOL aspects, had more health problems , and a lower level of functioning on several of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales a nd single items. Neither demographic nor medical background variables seeme d to have an influence on the results. The relatively high QOL could be exp lained by the fact that most patients had had their treatment for a long pe riod and thus had time to adjust to the situation.