Correlation Between Cancer Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Advanced Cancer Admitted to a Palliative Care Unit

Abstract

Introduction

Cancer pain is one of the most prevalent manageable symptoms in patients with advanced cancer, and it has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL).

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between cancer pain and QoL in patients with advanced cancer who are hospitalized in a palliative care unit.

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional analysis of patients with advanced cancer who were hospitalized with cancer pain at a specialized palliative care unit between June 2021 and February 2022. Pain intensity and its impact on daily activities were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), while the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 PAL (QLQ-C15-PAL) was used to evaluate QoL.

Results

A total of 104 patients with cancer pain were included, with a mean age of 53.6 years (±14.1). Most of the patients were female (65.38%), and the most common primary tumor site was in the gastrointestinal tract (22.11%). The most frequently reported site of cancer pain was the abdomen (32.69%). The mean duration of cancer pain was 52.3 days (±6.2). The domains of QoL most strongly correlated with cancer pain were weakness (coefficient = .52, P < .001), nausea (coefficient = .36, P < .001), and the physical domain (coefficient = -.30, P < .001).

Conclusion

Cancer pain is strongly correlated with a deterioration in QoL in patients with advanced cancer, and its management should be pursued as a strategy for optimizing QoL.

Keywords

quality of life cancer palliative care cancer pain inpatient

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