Moussa, Nadia
Assessement of the quality of life of patients followed for lung cancer: about Tunisian series
- 2021.
10
Introduction: Lung cancer (LC) has a heavy impact on the quality of life (QQL) of patients both physically and psychologically. Aims: Evaluate the QQL of patients with LC and detect the factors associated with its alteration. Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study, carried out at the pneumology service of Hedi chaker hospital of Sfax (Tunisia) over period of 6 months from June to December 2018, including 80 patients with non-small cell lung cancer classified stage III and IV. Clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data were collected from medical files of the patients selected. Overall health and QQL, daily activities, sleep disorders, anxiety-depressive disorders were assessed respectively by the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire, Performans status (PS), Insomnia severity index (ISI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Results: The mean of age of the patients was 60 years with a male predominance (95%). LC was classified as stage IV (67%). Thirty-seven percent (37%) of patients had à PS equal to 3 and 20% a PS rated at 4. Certain anxiety was observed in 62% of patients and depression in 9%. Insomnia was noted in 36% of patients which was rated severe (10%) and moderate (15%). QQL was altered in 39 patients (49%). The presence of pain, dyspnea, insomnia and fatigue were factors associated with appearance of anxiety-depressive disorders in our patients (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant association was observed between the presence of fatigue, dyspnea and pain and the onset of insomnia (p < 0.0001). The presence of pain, fatigue, insomnia, constipation, abdominal swelling and diarrhea were factors associated with deterioration of the overall health and QQL of our patients. Conclusion: During the course of LC, the patient’s QQL deteriorates dramatically. It is judicious to pay particular attention to this entity and detect the factors which can influence it in order to be able to act with the aim of its improvement within the framework overall care.