Abstract
Background
The consequences of cancer and its treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQL)
and health care utilisation among elderly long-term cancer survivors have rarely been studied. However, the impact can be different
for older compared to younger patients due to the higher prevalence of comorbid diseases,
a higher risk of treatment-related complications and because they often receive different
therapies compared to younger patients. Therefore, this study addressed the following
questions; do HRQL and health care utilisation differ between younger and elderly
cancer survivors, and are those differences age or disease related.
Methods
A population-based, cross-sectional survey among 1893 long-term survivors of endometrial
cancer, prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was conducted using a cancer registry.
HRQL was measured by the SF-36 and health care utilisation was measured with a self-reported
questionnaire. Results were compared to a normative population. Patients with disease
progression were excluded resulting in a total number of 1112 patients to be analysed.
Results
Young non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors (<70 years) reported lower vitality, bodily pain
and general health compared to the normative population while older (⩾70 years) survivors
did not differ from the norm. Young lymphoma survivors experienced better physical
functioning compared to older survivors. Young endometrial cancer survivors experienced
less bodily pain compared to the normative population while older survivors did not
differ from the norm. Young endometrial cancer survivors experienced better physical
and role functioning compared to older survivors. Young prostate cancer survivors
reported less bodily pain compared to the norm while older survivors did not. Young
prostate cancer survivors reported higher scores on physical functioning compared
to older survivors. Age, comorbid diseases, educational level and current occupation
influenced HRQL significantly. Both younger and older cancer survivors visited their
medical specialist, but not their GP, significantly more often compared to the age-matched
general Dutch population. Both younger and older cancer survivors only sporadically
used additional care services after cancer treatment.
Discussion
HRQL of older and younger survivors is comparable, with the exception of physical
functioning which is lower in older survivors. This difference in physical functioning
was probably not caused by cancer because physical functioning among cancer survivors
did not differ much compared to an age-matched normative population. Both younger
and older long-term cancer survivors visited their medical specialist often but only
sporadically used additional care services after cancer treatment.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 10, 2007
Accepted:
June 29,
2007
Received in revised form:
June 28,
2007
Received:
May 8,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
