Factors related to the quality of life in patients with bone metastases

Abstract

Treatment for bone metastases aims to preserve patients' quality of life (QOL). Therefore, assessment of patients' reported QOL is important, especially in this field. This cross-sectional study sought to investigate the clinical factors of QOL in patients with bone metastasis in different cancer settings, at any treatment status, and examined the effect of these factors on systemic symptoms and psychological disorders. This study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team for bone metastases at a university hospital in Japan. One-hundred seventy-four patients who could complete the self-report questionnaires were selected. The questionnaire included the EQ-5D, EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL, BM22, and K6 distress scale. We obtained clinical data on tumor progression, bone metastasis, pain, and ECOG-PS. The mean (SD) EQ-5D score was 0.58 (0.24), which was lower than that of the general Japanese and US population (0.85). Skeletal-related events (SREs), pain, and ECOG-PS were significantly related to lower EQ-5D scores in the multivariable analysis (p < 0.01), whereas primary lesion or expected prognosis at the first examination was not. These three factors were also related to systemic symptoms and emotional functioning. Radiologically lytic bone metastasis and lower limb/acetabular metastases were related to SREs and ECOG-PS, respectively. In conclusion, for improving the QOL of patients with bone metastases, we should focus on SRE prevention, treatment for pain, and modifying ADL, and a multidisciplinary team might be useful.

Keywords: Bone metastasis; Multidisciplinary approach; Pain; Performance status; Quality of life; Skeletal-related events.