Health-related quality of life and associated factors among patients with liver cancer

Abstract Objective This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Chinese liver cancer patients. The research considers socio-demographic and clinical determinants and incorporates generic (EQ-5D-5L) and disease-specific (EORTC QLQ-C30) instruments for a more nuanced analysis. Methods A cross-sectional study involved 229 liver cancer patients treated at two prominent Chinese hospitals from February to July 2023. The study utilized generic instruments EQ-5D-5L and the disease-specific HCC18 tool for QoL assessment. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and multivariate linear regression. Results Factors such as ECOG PS, Child-Pugh class, BCLC, and CNLC stages significantly impacted HRQoL scores. Age, education, alcohol consumption, ALB levels, and hypertension influenced EQ-5D-5L VAS scores. Living status, TBil levels, ALB levels, PVTT, and treatment type affected EQ-5D-5L utility and QLQ-C30 summary scores. Notably, living alone correlated with higher utility values. Multivariate analysis revealed consistent influences of ECOG PS and CNLC stage on EQ-5D-5L VAS, utility, EORTC QLQ-C30 GHS/QoL, and summary score. Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of HRQoL in Chinese liver cancer patients, integrating generic and disease-specific instruments. ECOG PS and CNLC stage emerged as crucial determinants of HRQoL. The findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions to enhance HRQoL in this population. Future research can explore variations in utility values under different sets and optimize health economic assessments.