Quality of Life in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Andrea Alexander - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Stephen Fung - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Martin Eichler - , University Cancer Centre Dresden, Department of internal Medicine I, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Nadja Lehwald-Tywuschik - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Vasuki Uthayakumar - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Sami Alexander Safi - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Christian Vay - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Hany Ashmawy - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Sinan Kalmuk - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Alexander Rehders - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Sascha Vaghiri - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Wolfram Trudo Knoefel - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) substantially affects cancer patients due to adverse outcomes and disruptions in cancer care. Recent studies have indicated the additional stress and anxiety burden arising from the pandemic and impairing quality of life in this vulnerable group of patients. However, patients with cancer represent a heterogenous group. Therefore, we conducted a study on patients with pancreatic cancer, requiring demanding surgical interventions and chemotherapy regimens due to its aggressive tumor biology, to explore the pandemic’s impact on quality of life within this homogenous cohort. Methods: In a descriptive observational study, the quality of life of patients who had undergone pancreatic surgery for tumor resection at our institution between 2014 and the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 was assessed. For HRQoL measurement, we used the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), comparing their situation before the pandemic and since its beginning. An additional self-developed questionnaire was applied to assess the life circumstances during the pandemic. Results: Our cohort included 26 patients. Scores from the survey in HRQoL revealed no significant changes over time between before and during the pandemic. A medium deterioration in HRQoL was apparent in social functioning, as well as a small deterioration in role functioning and emotional functioning. Worries concerning a potential impact of COVID-19 on personal health were expressed. Psychological limitations in QoL were mainly attributed to the pandemic, whereas physical limitations in QoL were rather associated with the underlying disease of pancreatic cancer. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing considerable social and emotional distress among pancreatic cancer patients. These patients will benefit from psychological support during the pandemic and beyond. Long-time survivors of pancreatic cancer, such as those included in our cohort, appear to have improved resilience facing the psychosocial challenges of the pandemic. For pancreatic cancer, surgical care is considered the cornerstone of treatment. Prolonged delays in healthcare cause serious damage to mental and physical health. To date, the longer-term clinical consequences are not known and can only be estimated. The potential tragic outcome for the vulnerable group of pancreatic cancer patients highlights the urgency of timely healthcare decisions to be addressed in the future.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number3731
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume19
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 35329416
ORCID /0000-0001-9654-2207/work/142254172