Sociodemographic factors and quality of life as prognostic indicators in head and neck cancer

Pre-treatment quality of life (QOL) has been found to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in cancer patients, in particular in patients with advanced cancer. Sociodemographic factors such as marital and socioeconomic status have also been recognised as prognostic factors. We studied the influence of QOL and mood (measured with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Head and Neck Cancer Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-H&N35), and with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D)) as measured before treatment, the use of cigarettes and alcohol and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, marital status, income and occupation) on recurrence and survival in 208 patients with head and neck cancer prior to treatment with surgery and/or radiotherapy, using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Cognitive functioning and, to a lesser degree, marital status were independent predictors of recurrence and survival, along with medical factors (stage and radicality). Patients with less than optimal cognitive functioning and unmarried patients had a relative risk (RR) of recurrence of 1.72 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01–2.93) and 1.85 (95% CI 1.06–3.33), respectively, and a RR of dying of 1.90 (95% CI 1.10–3.26) and 1.82 (95% CI 1.03–3.23), respectively. Performance status, physical functioning, mood and global QOL and smoking and drinking did not predict for recurrence and survival. The influence of cognitive functioning might be related to the use of alcohol. Marital status may influence prognosis through mechanisms of health behaviour and/or social support mechanisms.