Predictors of health-related quality of life in Korean prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy

Abstract

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the level of psychological distress, fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and identify HRQOL predictors in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 161 men with prostate cancer receiving ADT (mean age, 73 years) at two university-based hospitals in South Korea. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire. Measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) subscale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P).

RESULTS: The mean scores were 3.3 (SD = 2.8) for anxiety with a prevalence of 8.9%, 5.7 (SD = 3.8) for depression with a prevalence of 25.5%, and 30.3 (SD = 7.4) for fatigue with a prevalence of 15.6%. The five FACT-P subscale means were 23.9 (SD = 4.3) for physical well-being, 15.4 (SD = 6.4) for social well-being, 18.5 (SD = 4.3) for emotional well-being, 17.3 (SD = 5.6) for functional well-being, and 30.3 (SD = 7.4) for the prostate cancer-specific subscale. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that depression, which was inversely associated with all FACT-P subscales, was the strongest predictor of worse HRQOL. Fatigue and comorbid conditions were also associated with the HRQOL of multiple domains.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that intervention aimed at improving HRQOL of men receiving ADT should include depression, fatigue, and comorbidity management.