Changes in psychological distress and quality of life after esophageal cancer surgery: A prospective study

Abstract

Background Esophageal cancer patients experience physical and psychological difficulties after surgery. This study aimed to identify the changes in psychological distress and quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer before surgery to three months after surgery. Methods We enrolled 49 patients who were scheduled to undergo esophageal surgery at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea in this prospective study. Patients’ psychological distress and quality of life were assessed with the Korean scales HADS, EORTC QLQ-C30, and QLQ-OES18 at the pre-surgery, one-month post-surgery, and three months post-surgery. Results Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, in 57.1% of patients one-month post-surgery, and 8.2% of patients three-months post-surgery. Moderate-to-severe depression was reported in 12.2% of patients at the pre-surgery evaluation, in 63.3% of patients one-month post-surgery, and 16.3% of patients three months post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10–20 points) in physical functioning, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and dyspnea, and significant, large changes (> 20) in role functioning, fatigue, pain, and appetite loss (per EORTC QLQ-C30) were reported from pre-surgery to one-month post-surgery. Clinically significant, moderate changes (10–20 points) in dysphagia and taste problems and a significant, large change (> 20) in eating difficulties (per QLQ-OES18) were reported from pre-surgery to one-month post-surgery. Conclusion One month after esophageal cancer surgery, patients demonstrated severe psychological distress and worsening quality of life.