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Observational Study
. 2026 Jan;58(1):221-231.
doi: 10.4143/crt.2024.1104. Epub 2025 Mar 5.

Detection Ability of Quality of Life Changes and Responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 and the EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 in Patients Who Underwent Gastrectomy: A Prospective Comparative Study

Bang Wool Eom  1 , Keun Won Ryu  1 , Ji Yeong An  2 , Yun-Suhk Suh  3 , In Cho  4 , Sung Geun Kim  5 , Ji-Ho Park  6 , Hoon Hur  7 , Hyung-Ho Kim  3 , Sang-Hoon Ahn  3 , Sun-Hwi Hwang  8 , Hong Man Yoon  1 , Ki Bum Park  9 , Hyoung-Il Kim  10 , In-Gyu Kwon  11 , Han-Kwang Yang  12 , Byoung-Jo Suh  13 , Sang-Ho Jeong  14 , Tae-Han Kim  14 , Oh Kyoung Kwon  9 , Hye-Seong Ahn  15 , Ji Yeon Park  9 , Ki Young Yoon  16 , Myoung Won Son  17 , Seong-Ho Kong  12 , Young-Gil Son  18 , Geum Jong Song  17 , Jong Hyuk Yun  17 , Jung-Min Bae  19 , Do Joong Park  12 , Sol Lee  20 , Jun-Young Yang  21 , Kyung Won Seo  16 , You-Jin Jang  22 , So Hyun Kang  3 , Joongyub Lee  23 , Hyuk-Joon Lee  12 ; KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group (KOQUSS)
Affiliations
Observational Study

Detection Ability of Quality of Life Changes and Responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 and the EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 in Patients Who Underwent Gastrectomy: A Prospective Comparative Study

Bang Wool Eom et al. Cancer Res Treat. 2026 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the detection ability of quality of life (QoL) changes and responsiveness of the KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group (KOQUSS)-40 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ).

Materials and methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate QoL changes after various gastrectomies between January 2021 and April 2022. Participants were instructed to complete the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. QoL changes over time and QoL responsiveness were assessed for each questionnaire.

Results: Data from 491 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 22 institutions were analyzed. The summary scores of the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 showed significant differences between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.044 and p=0.038, respectively), but no difference was observed for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Dysphagia on the KOQUSS-40 was significantly different between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.031); however, dysphagia on the EORTC QLQ-STO22 did not differ. The responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 was similar to that of the EORTC QLQ in patients who experienced ≥ 10% body weight loss, but approximately 10% less in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy than the EORTC QLQ.

Conclusion: KOQUSS-40 has several advantages over EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 when comparing QoL between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups. The findings provide information for researchers investigating the QoL of patients who have undergone curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Keywords: Gastrectomy; Quality of life; Stomach neoplasms; Surveys and Questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

Conflict of interest relevant to this article was not reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Consort diagram.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Postoperative changes of summary scores of the KOQUSS-40 (A), EORTC QLQ-C30 (B), and EORTC QLQ-STO22 (C). DG, distal gastrectomy; EORTC QLQ, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire; KOQUSS, KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group; n.s., not significant; PG, proximal gastrectomy; PPG, pylorus-preserving gastrectomy; TG, total gastrectomy. *p < 0.05.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Postoperative changes of common symptoms. (A) Indigestion of the KOQUSS-40. (B) Eating restriction of the EORTC QLQ-STO22. (C) Dysphagia of the KOQUSS-40. (D) Dysphagia of the EORTC QLQ-STO22. (E) Reflux of the KOQUSS-40. (F) Reflux of the EORTC QLQ-STO22. DG, distal gastrectomy; EORTC QLQ, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire; KOQUSS, KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group; n.s., not significant; PG, proximal gastrectomy; PPG, pylorus-preserving gastrectomy; TG, total gastrectomy. *p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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