RESUMO
AIM: This study assessed the symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examined the symptom-associated characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The symptoms of 122 patients with NSCLC scheduled for chemotherapy before starting treatment were surveyed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). RESULTS: The most prevalent symptoms were coughing (EORTC score 41.7), dyspnea (33.9), fatigue (31.9), insomnia (30.3) and pain (21.8). The mean EORTC score for global QoL was 56.9 (SD=23.5). Physical, cognitive and emotional functioning, insomnia, diarrhea, and dyspnea had a significant influence on the HRQOL (p<0.05). ESAS assessment correlated with these results and thus was an easy-to-use tool for symptom assessment (correlation coefficient range=0.546-0.865, p<0.0001 for all symptoms). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced NSCLC suffer from multiple symptoms influencing HRQOL. ESAS provides a symptom assessment tool that is as reliable as but simpler to use than the EORTC questionnaire.
