The Effect of Methylprednisolone on the Quality of Life in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients with Dyspnea / 中国医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the changes of the quality of life of patients with advanced lung cancer accompanied with dyspnea before and af?ter methylprednisolone therapy,so as to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on the quality of life of the patients. Methods Totally 134 ad?vanced lung cancer patients with dyspnea were divided into two groups,the methylprednisolone group and the control group,according to whether they consented to the use of hormone therapy. All of them were followed with visual analog scale(VAS),the quality of life questionnaire?core 30 (EORTC QLQ?C30)and the quality of life questionnaire?lung cancer module 13(QLQ?LC13)questionnaire. Results At one hour after treatment compared to before treatment,the VAS scores for both groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the score for the methylprednisolone group were lower than the control group(P<0.05). At two weeks after treatment compared to before treatment,social function,emotional function, and overall quality of life scores for both groups were decreased(P<0.05). But the scores of pain,dyspnea,insomnia,loss of appetite,constipation, dysphagia were increased(P<0.05). Compared to the methylprednisolone group,the dyspnea and pain score for the control group was higher(P<0.05). Conclusion Methylprednisolone may improve the quality of life of advanced lung cancer patients with dyspnea in short term and slow down the deteriorating process of their quality of life.