An Analysis Of The Quality Of Life For 96 Progression-free Survival' Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients After Radiotherapy

Objective: To assess and discuss the status of postradiotherapic quality of life(QOL) in progression-free survival'nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients and explore the significance of intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) in improving QOL. Methods: Forty-nine items were designed in the questionnaire according to FACT-H&N and combining the related symptoms and side effects of NPC. From January 2004 to December 2008, 96 progression-free survival'NPC patients were surveyed for the evaluation of QOL at our hospital. With statistical software package SPSS16.0, the factors of the QOL were analyzed with multiple linear regression analysis. The patients were divided into IMRT group and conventional radiotherapy(CRT) group. rank sum test was used to compare the marks of QOL between the group. Results: The means and SD of"QOL score"was 66.6±9.7. The score of"functional well-being domain"was the lowest among the score of QOL. The worse items of the related symptoms and side effects of NPC were eating solid diet, dysphagia, xerostomia, enunciation. Multiple factors analysis suggested that sex, age, marriage, educational background, family income per capita, clinical stage and techniques of radiation were significant factors for QOL. In IMRT group and CRT group, The marks were significantly different in eating solid diet, xerostomia, enunciation, communication, dizziness and angina capitis, auditory harm and bombus, radiation caries, restriction of neck movement, difficult in opening mouth, degression of remembrance, gustatory hypoesthesia (P<0.05). Conclusions: Sex, age, marriage, educational background, family income per capita, clinical stage and the irradiation techniques may affect QOL. IMRT could improve QOL of the patients with NPC.