We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Longitudinal analysis of quality of life in patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer.
- Authors
van Velsen, Evert F. S.; Massolt, Elske T.; Heersema, Hélène; Kam, Boen L. R.; van Ginhoven, Tessa M.; Visser, W. Edward; Peeters, Robin P.
- Abstract
Objective: Earlier cross-sectional studies showed that patients with diffe rentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have a significant reduction of quality of life (QoL) compared to contr ols. However, recent longitudinal studies showed mixed results and had relative short follow-up or lacked knowledge ab out QoL before initial surgery. Therefore, we initiated a longitudinal study to assess changes of QoL in patients undergo ing treatment for DTC. Methods: We prospectively included patients, aged 18-80 years, who were treated for DTC at a Dutch university hospital. Using questionnaires, QoL was assessed before surgery, just before radioiodine (RAI) therapy, and regularly during follow-up. Repeated measurement analysis was used to ass ess changes of QoL over time, and we explored the influence of different characteristics on QoL. Results: Longitudinal QoL assessments were available in 185 patients (m ean age 47 years; 71% women). All patients were treated according to the Dutch guidelines with total thyro idectomy followed by RAI (83% after thyroid hormone withdrawal). Median time between baseline and final questionnair e was 31 months, and patients completed a median of three questionnaires. QoL at baseline was lower than that in the general population, developed non-linear over time, was lowest around RAI therapy, and recovered over time. Females, younger patients, and patients with persistent hypoparathyroidism had lower QoL scores. Conclusions: In a population of DTC patients, QoL before initial therapy is already lower than that in the general population. Thereafter, QoL develops non-linearly over time in general, with the lowest QoL around RAI therapy, while 2 to 3 years later, it approximates baseline values.
- Subjects
THYROID cancer; QUALITY of life; CROSS-sectional method; UNIVERSITY hospitals; QUALITY of life measurement; LONGITUDINAL method
- Publication
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2019, Vol 181, Issue 6, p671
- ISSN
0804-4643
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1530/EJE-19-0550