Health‐Related Quality of Life, Dysphagia, Voice Problems, Depression, and Anxiety After Total Laryngectomy. (7th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wulff, Nille B.; Dalton, Susanne O.; Wessel, Irene; Arenaz Búa, Beatriz; Löfhede, Helena; Hammerlid, Eva; Kjaer, Trille K.; Godballe, Christian; Kjærgaard, Thomas; Homøe, Preben
• Is Part Of: Laryngoscope. Volume 132:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 980
• Page End: 988
• Publication Date: 2021-09-07
• Subjects: Total laryngectomy -- health‐related quality of life -- voice problems -- dysphagia -- depression; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.29857
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-852X

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives/Hypothesis: The aims were to determine health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), including voice problems, dysphagia, depression, and anxiety after total laryngectomy (TL), and investigate the associations between HRQoL and the late effects. Study Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: 172 participants having received a TL 1.6 to 18.1 years ago for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer filled in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, Core and Head and Neck module (EORTC QLQ‐C30, EORTC QLQ‐H&N35), Voice‐Related Quality of Life questionnaire (V‐RQOL), M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Results: Participants scored worse than normative reference populations on all scales/items of the EORTC questionnaires, except one, and almost half of the scales/items showed a clinically relevant difference. Moderate/severe dysphagia was present in 46%, moderate/severe voice problems in 57%, depression in 16%, and anxiety in 20%. Decreasing age, increasing numbers of comorbidities, increasing voice problems, increasing dysphagia, and increasing depression symptoms, were associated with a lowered EORTC QLQ‐C30 summary score. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of participants experienced clinically significant late effects and increasing levels of these were associated with a lowered HRQoL. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:980–988, 2022