QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH SPINE TUMORS

Abstract

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) in chronic somatic diseases is seen as integral characteristic of physical, psychological, emotional and social functioning of patient. QoL in oncological patients is studied intensively. Patients with spine tumors previously had poor prognosis. Modern surgical treatment in patients with spine tumors allows to increase survival rate. Consequently the issue of QoL in patients with spine tumors becomes especially actual. The aim of the study was to reveal basic parameters of QoL in patients with spine tumors before and after surgical treatment. Results: Study participants were 25 patients with spine tumors. The diagnosis was spine metastases from different primary sources. The methods were: VAS and Watkins scales, «SF36 Health Status Survey», Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 of European Organization for Research and Treatment Cancer, Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire. All patients had pain syndrome before treatment. Pain assessment using VAS and Watkins scales before and after treatment revealed pain reduction as a result of surgery. Patients with spine tumors assess their QoL in general after surgery significantly higher than before treatment. As well patients report increasing QoL after surgery on the parameters of neurological status and pain intensity which corresponds to VAS and Watkins scales assessment. Besides the results revealed improving of QoL in patients with spine tumors after treatment on the parameter of emotional functioning. The diagnosis of patients with spine metastases refers to last stages of the disease. So treatment in these patients in most cases initially aimed at palliative care helps not only reduce pain intensity but also increase their QoL and in this way allow patients have emotionally rich life. Conclusion: Nowadays patients with spine tumors undergo effective surgical treatment which increases their survival rate and significantly improve their QoL. The further research is needed to study psychological factors of QoL in patients with spine tumors in order to make relevant programs of functional, social and psychological rehabilitation for these patients.