Association of self‐reported financial burden with quality of life and oncologic outcomes in head and neck cancer. Issue 2 (18th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lenze, Nicholas R.; Bensen, Jeannette T.; Farnan, Laura; Sheth, Siddharth; Zevallos, Jose P.; Yarbrough, Wendell G.; Zanation, Adam M.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 44:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 412
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2021-11-18
• Subjects: cancer survivors -- cost of illness -- head and neck neoplasms -- health expenditures -- patient‐reported outcomes -- quality of life; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26934
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: There is a paucity of data on financial toxicity among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials: This was a retrospective, cross‐sectional study of patients with HNSCC surveyed at an outpatient oncology clinic. Results: The sample included 202 patients with HNSCC with a mean age of 59.6 years (SD 10.0). There were 53 patients (26%) with self‐reported financial burden. Education of high school or less was a significant predictor of self‐reported financial burden (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.03–6.14, p = 0.042). Patients reporting financial burden had significantly worse physical ( p = 0.003), mental ( p = 0.003), and functional ( p = 0.036) health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients reporting financial burden appeared to have lower 5‐year overall survival (74.3% vs. 83.9%, p = 0.165), but this association did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Financial burden or toxicity may affect approximately a quarter of patients with HNSCC and appears to be associated with worse HRQOL outcomes.