A REAL-WORLD EVALUATION OF HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN CANCER PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN INDIA
Authors: Madhu Jolam, Saiteja Munigala, Raghavaiah V Kode, Satyanarayana SV Padi*
Publication Date: 2026/07/04
DOI: 10.59551/DOI: 10.59551/IJHMP/25832069/2026.7.1.148
Abstract
<p>Background: The majority of cancer survivors’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator of human satisfaction and well-being and is hampered by cancer and the serious toxic effects of therapy. Assessment of HRQoL is a critical component of cancer therapy as it contributes to enhanced patient outcomes and overall well-being.</p>
<p>Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted for six months in cancer survivors attending a tertiary care cancer hospital in India. Patient particulars and cancer types were collected from patient records. HRQoL was assessed using the validated EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and EQ-VAS scale. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.</p>
<p>Results: Among 245 cancer patients’ data analyzed, 68.9% were females, and the majority belonged to the 51–60 years age group (27.3%). Breast cancer was the most prevalent malignancy (35.5%), followed by tongue cancer (13.8%). In the EQ-5D-5L assessment, the majority of patients reported no problem (Level 1) in mobility (87.3%), self-care (83.6%), usual activities (91.4%), and anxiety/depression (81.6%). In the pain/discomfort dimension, 28.5% patients had no problem (Level 1); however, more than half of the patients (58.3%) experienced a slight problem (Level 2). Few patients had a slight problem (Level 2) in the other four dimensions. A relatively smaller number of patients reported moderate (Level 3) to severe (Level 4) problems, and none of them had an extreme problem (Level 5) in any dimension. The mean EQ-5D index and EQ-VAS scores were 0.88 and 87.04, respectively, indicating good functional status.</p>
<p>Conclusion: The majority of the cancer patients had pain/discomfort issues, and a few patients had slight problems with mobility, self-care, usual activities, and anxiety/depression. The study demonstrated relatively functional independence with satisfactory HRQoL except for pain/discomfort. Periodic HRQoL assessment improves patient outcomes and ensures support for evidence-based oncology care.</p>
<p>Keywords: Cancer, EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS Scale, HRQoL, Pain/Discomfort, Quality of Life.</p>
References
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