Health-related quality of life and perception of anxiety in women with abnormal cervical cytology referred for colposcopy: an observational study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate health-related quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with abnormal cervical cytology referred for colposcopy.

Study design: An observational study with prospective and retrospective cohorts. In the prospective arm 240 women referred for colposcopy filled in the 15D HRQoL and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires and were followed up for 12 months. In the retrospective arm 208 patients who had been treated for cervical dysplasia eight years earlier filled in the 15D HRQoL questionnaire. Results were compared with the age- and sex-standardized general population.

Results: In the prospective part of the study, the mean 15D score of the patients did not differ from that of the general population. On the dimensions of sleeping, distress and sexual activity, however, the patients scored lower than the general population (p<0.001). Patients with higher levels of anxiety at baseline, according to the STAI questionnaire, had lower HRQoL during the whole 12-month observation period (p<0.001). The overall HRQoL score of the patients treated for cervical dysplasia eight years earlier did not differ from that of the general population.

Conclusions: Abnormal cytology and referral for colposcopy were associated with anxiety and slightly impaired psychosocial components of HRQoL but did not reduce the overall HRQoL. High anxiety levels at baseline were associated with impaired HRQoL. Previous treatment for cervical dysplasia was not associated with impaired overall HRQoL.

Keywords: Abnormal cervical cytology; Cervical dysplasia; Condyloma; HPV; HRQoL.