Impact of dysphagia on quality of life after treatment of head-and-neck cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) associated with dysphagia after head-and-neck cancer treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Of a total population of 104, a retrospective analysis of 73 patients who complained of dysphagia after primary radiotherapy (RT), chemoradiotherapy, and postoperative RT for head-and-neck malignancies were evaluated. All patients underwent a modified barium swallow examination to assess the severity of dysphagia, graded on a scale of 1-7. QOL was evaluated by the University of Washington (UW) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression questionnaires. The QOL scores obtained were compared with those from the 31 patients who were free of dysphagia after treatment. The QOL scores were also graded according to the dysphagia severity. RESULTS: The UW and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scores were reduced and elevated, respectively, in the dysphagia group compared with the no dysphagia group (p = 0.0005). The UW scores were also substantially lower among patients with moderate-to-severe (Grade 4-7) compared with no or mild (Grade 2-3) dysphagia (p = 0.0005). The corresponding Hospital Anxiety (p = 0.005) and Depression (p = 0.0001) scores were also greater for the moderate-to-severe group. The UW QOL subscale scores showed a statistically significant decrease for swallowing (p = 0.00005), speech (p = 0.0005), recreation/entertainment (p = 0.0005), disfigurement (p = 0.0006), activity (p = 0.005), eating (p = 0.002), shoulder disability (p = 0.006), and pain (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Dysphagia is a significant morbidity of head-and-neck cancer treatment, and the severity of dysphagia correlated with a compromised QOL, anxiety, and depression. Patients with moderate-to-severe dysphagia require a team approach involving nutritional support, physical therapy, speech rehabilitation, pain management, and psychological counseling.