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. 2022 Mar;31(3):777-787.
doi: 10.1007/s11136-021-02997-w. Epub 2021 Sep 20.

Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients compared to cancer survivors and age-matched women in the general population in Vietnam

Tran Thu Ngan  1   2 , Vu Quynh Mai  3   4 , Hoang Van Minh  3 , Michael Donnelly  5 , Ciaran O'Neill  5
Affiliations

Health-related quality of life among breast cancer patients compared to cancer survivors and age-matched women in the general population in Vietnam

Tran Thu Ngan et al. Qual Life Res. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer (BC) patients, survivors, and age-matched women from the general population in Vietnam to address the paucity of HRQoL research and contribute to the robust assessment of BC screening and care in Vietnam.

Methods: The standardised EQ-5D-5L instrument was incorporated in an online survey and a hospital-based face-to-face survey, and together with data from the Vietnam EQ-5D-5L norms study. χ2 tests assessed EQ-5D health profile associations and a Tobit regression model investigated the association between overall health status (EQ-VAS/utility scores) and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: A total of 309 participants (107 patients undergoing treatment and 202 survivors who had completed treatment) provided usable responses. The dimensions that affected mostly the HRQoL of women with BC were pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Current patients and survivors differed significantly regarding HRQoL dimensions of mobility, self-care, usual activities, and anxiety/depression. Their health utilities were 0.74 and 0.84, respectively, compared with 0.91 for age-matched Vietnamese women in the general population (p < 0.001). Treatment status (survivor vs patient), younger age, higher monthly household income, and higher education levels were associated with higher health utility.

Conclusions: The results point to unmet needs in mental health support and well-being and for attention to be given to the development of a biopsychosocial system of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care. The results will also inform future assessments of the comparative value for money of interventions intended to impact on breast cancer in Vietnam.

Keywords: Breast cancer; EQ-5D-5L; HRQoL; Health utility; Vietnam.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Recruitment process and results
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Proportion of respondents who reported problems on each EQ-5D dimension
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
EQ-VAS/utility scores for breast cancer patients, survivors, and age-matched women from the general population
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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