FACTORS INFLUENCING THE EARLY POSTOPERATIVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS TREATED SURGICALLY FOR GYNECOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: To evaluate the influence of inherent patient characteristics on early postoperative QoL in patients treated surgically for gynecological malignancies Materials and methods: The study was designed as a prospective cohort study. Patients scheduled for surgical treatment of a gynecological malignancy at the Department of gynecological oncology at the University Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Skopje, in the period January – December 2018. Quality of life was quantified using a standardized and validated questionnaire (FACT-G) preoperatively and 1 month after surgical treatment. We explored the effect of the following variables: age, BMI, nationality, education, marital status, place of residence, employment, primary location of the neoplasm, disease stage, extent of surgical resection, comorbidities and smoking. Results: Data from 123 patients were included in the final analysis. The average age of patients at the time of recruitment was 58±10 years (range 23-79 years). Eighty-four patients (68.29%) had endometrial cancer, 22 (17.89%) patients had cervical cancer, while 17 (13.82%) patients had ovarian cancer. Postoperative FACT-G scores were significantly lower (p=0.015). A clinically relevant postoperative decrease in quality of life was identified in 51 patients (41.5%). Independent predictors of deteriorated postoperative QoL in this study were: advanced disease stage, extensive surgical resection, comorbidities and higher education. Conclusion: The results illustrate the physical, psychological, and social effects of the surgical treatment on the early postoperative QoL, thereby emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the pre and postoperative care of these patients.