Pretreatment factors predicting quality of life after treatment for head and neck cancer

Background. Quality of life (QOL) has become an important issue in head and neck cancer. Explanation of factors predicting QOL after treatment has imp ortant implications for patient management. Methods. In this prospective study we analyzed which pre treatment factors predicted QOL after surgery and/or radiotherapy with curative intent in a c ohort of 153 patients with cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypophary nx, or larynx. The patients completed the EORTC Core Questionnaire, the EOR TC Head and Neck Cancer module, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies De pression scale before treatment and 6 and 12 months later. The influence of gender, age, performance status, and depressive symptoms at baseline, site , stage, and treatment on QOL (and its dimensions) and depressive symptoms after 6 and 12 months was studied, using linear regression analysis. Results. A high level of depressive symptoms and a low performance status a t baseline and combination treatment were significant predictors of increas ed severity of symptoms and poor functioning after treatment. Treatment was a predictor of head and neck symptoms, whereas performance status and depr essive symptoms were predictors of general symptoms and functioning. Gender and age had little predictive value. Conclusions. Patients with depressive symptoms or a low performance status who receive combination treatment for cancer of the head and neck are at ri sk for physical and psychologic morbidity after treatment. Special attentio n should be given to these patients in rehabilitation programs. (C) 2000 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.