OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify characteristics of baseline health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the diagnostic process of prostate cancer. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted to measure HRQOL in a cohort of 141 patients in whom prostate cancer was suspected and prostate biopsy was scheduled, using both generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures (SF-36, UCLA-Prostate Cancer Index) at two points: before prostate biopsy (prediagnosis) and after giving biopsy results (postdiagnosis). Seventy-three patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 68 were not. RESULTS: Compared to age-gender adjusted population norms, patients demonstrated better physical function (PF) and worse mental health (MH). Characteristic age-related changes were found in PF and sexual function (SXF); however, disease stage exhibited no relevant effects in HRQOL. No significant difference was detected between pre- and postdiagnosis SF-36 and UCLA-PCI scores. CONCLUSION: The present study discovered no relevant impact of the diagnostic process of prostate cancer on baseline HRQOL using SF-36 and UCLA-PCI. Combined with results of previous studies, it is supportive of regarding pretreatment levels of HRQOL as the baseline.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ishihara et al. (2006) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: