Análise da qualidade de vida dos pacientes pós tratamento de câncer de laringe no município de Juiz de Fora, MG

Abstract

Although laryngeal cancer accounts for 25% of head and neck malignancies, and 2% of all malignancies in Brazil, the outcome of patients with no possibility of cure is not well known. Studies on the quality of life of such patients focus on measures to limit the impact of clinical symptoms and treatment untoward effects on daily performance. Several specific tools were developed to quantify the quality of life of head and neck cancer patients, the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy - Head and Neck (FACT-HN) among them. Focusing on the quality of life during or after therapy, this questionnaire reflects the patient`s perspective concerning therapy and reveals possible treatment weaknesses. Objectives: Assess the quality of life of subjects undergoing treatment for laryngeal cancer in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil, and identify significant variables. Method: Cross-sectional study of 60 patients with primary laryngeal cancer, with at least 1-year-survival, and treated at 2 oncology reference centers in Juiz de Fora, in the year 2001/2007. An investigative tool consisting of exploratory data and the Portuguese-adapted FACTHN were used. Preliminary bivariate analysis selected variables with p values ≤0.20. Subsequent multiple linear regression analysis was performed with the enter technique. On the final multivariate model, variables with p values ≤0.10 remained. Results: On bivariate analysis (p≤ 0.20) greater significance was found for the sociodemographic variables (gender and years of schooling) and for the clinicalfunctional variables (treatment appraisal with hindsight and speech and nutritional therapies). Treatment appraisal with hindsight and speech and nutritional therapies still showed a significant association after multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Sociodemographic, socioeconomic and clinical-functional factors interfere with the quality of life of such patients, albeit in a different way. In the three domains that make up the FACT-HN (TOI, FACTG e FACTHN), sociodemographic and clinicalfunctional factors seemingly influenced the quality of life of these patients.