Psychosocial and physical correlates of prognosis in head and neck cancer

• Published in: Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences Vol. 26; no. 4; p. 340
• Main Authors: De Boer, M.F., Pruyn, J.F.A., Negt, P.P., Meeuwis, C.A., Van Den Borne, H.W., Verwoerd, C.D.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-08-2001
• ISSN: 0307-7772; 1365-2273
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2273.2001.00479-5.x

Introduction. The objective was to study the complex interactions among psychosocial, medical, behavioural and demographic variables as they relate to survival and relapse in this type of patient.1
Methods. A total of 133 consecutive patients were included in a prospective study at pretreatment. In addition to clinical variables, psychosocial and physical functioning was assessed by means of a self‐report questionnaire.
Results. During the observation period, 57 patients died whereas 76 were still alive 6 years after treatment. Results of the multivariate survival analysis indicate that patients without neck metastases had a better prognosis than patients with positive neck nodes. Pretreatment smoking showed a negative correlation with overall survival. Patients who are more physically fit were more likely to survive and less likely to suffer a relapse. Also, patients who expressed a high intensity of psychosocial complaints prior to the treatment had a better prognosis than had those who did not express such negative feelings.
Conclusion. The current findings linking physical fitness and prognosis are suggestive, but clinical trials are necessary to examine the direct and indirect pathways of the variables that underlie physical fitness and influence survival and relapse. The finding of the poor prognostic value associated with an inability to express negative feelings is consistent with a growing body of research knowledge.