Health-related Quality of Life Among Adult Patients With Cancer in Uganda

Aim: To investigate prevalence of clinical cases with regard to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its association with socio-demographic and clinical factors among adult patients attending specialized cancer care in Uganda. Methods: : A cross-sectional study assessed HRQoL in 385 patients (response rate 95%) using the EORTC QLQ-C30. Predetermined thresholds indicating clinical importance were applied to identify patients exhibiting functional impairments and symptoms at a level meriting concern (clinical case). Multivariable logistic regression models identified factors associated with being a clinical case in selected subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: : The majority of the patients (mean age 48 years) reported functioning at levels indicating clinical caseness (68%−87%), as well as significant pain (80%), and fatigue (63%). Higher age and lack of education were associated with clinical caseness. Clinical characteristics related to caseness included having an advanced disease stage, being hospitalized, receiving palliation, not on active cancer treatment as well as diagnosed with head/neck cancers. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that more than two thirds of adult patients cared for at a specialized cancer facility in Uganda rate HRQoL at levels meriting concern. The large proportion of patients with pain calls for implementation of guidelines to improve pain management.