Preliminary Investigation of the Quality of Life in the Elderly with Cancer

Kang, Im Ok; Yun, Young Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Because of a continuous increase in elderly population with functional disabilities and diseases including cancer in Korea, the need for measuring the quality of life in the elderly with cancer is growing. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with the quality of life in the elderly with cancer.
METHODS
The instruments of this study were European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC0 QLQ-C30, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). We conducted the stepwise multiple regression to analyze predictors of global QOL in the elderly and the younger cancer patient groups.
RESULTS
The main findings were as follows: The regression analysis of the elderly group revealed some items as significant predictors; sadness, insomnia, fatigability of depression subscales, and work of pain interference item. The regression analysis of the younger group revealed cognitive functioning and activity of pain interference item as significant variables.
CONCLUSION
The findings support the conclusion that depression items were the most important factors in QOL of elderly patients with cancer. Therefore, we need to take more interest concerning depression in elderly cancer patients.