Sex-differences in symptoms and functioning in > 5000 cancer survivors: Results from the profiles registry

S. Oertelt-Prigione; B.H. de Rooij; F. Mols; S. Oerlemans; O. Husson; D. Schoormans; J.B. Haanen; L.V. van de Poll-Franse

doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2021.07.019

Sex-differences in symptoms and functioning in > 5000 cancer survivors: Results from the profiles registry

S. Oertelt-Prigione^*, B.H. de Rooij, F. Mols, S. Oerlemans, O. Husson, D. Schoormans, J.B. Haanen, L.V. van de Poll-Franse

^*Corresponding author for this work

Medical and Clinical Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

Background
Previous reports highlight the greater number of side effects that women experience during cancer treatment, but little is known about sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term survivors.

Methods
We investigated sex differences in the prevalence of physical (EORTC QLQ-C30) and emotional symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and loss of functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) in 5339 cancer survivors (55% males). General linear models were computed to assess the differences in symptoms and functioning between female and male cancer survivors and between survivors and an age-matched reference population.

Results
The direct comparison between female and male cancer survivors identified more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting (M = 5.0 versus. 3.2), insomnia (M = 26.1 versus. 15.9), anxiety (M = 5.2 versus. 4.2), and lower physical (M = 77.5 versus. 82.5) and emotional functioning (M = 83.4 versus. 86.3), in female survivors. However, comparison with an age-matched reference population demonstrated that several symptoms, such as fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression, appeared to be more frequent in male patients. The investigation of functioning domains — compared with a reference population — highlighted further sex-specific differences. Female survivors experienced a moderate net loss in physical and cognitive functioning (−6.1 [95% CI = −8.1; −4,1] and −5.2 respectively [95% CI = −7; −3.5]), whereas male survivors displayed a significant net loss in role and social functioning compared to the reference population (−9.9 [95% CI = −11.2; −8.6] and −7.7 [95% CI = −9.6; −7.6] respectively).

Conclusion
To adequately capture sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term cancer survivors, a comparison with a reference population should always be considered. In our study population, this adjustment highlighted a significant and unexpected long-term impact on male patients. Role and social functioning were especially impacted in male patients, emphasizing the need to further investigate these gendered domains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	24-34
Journal	European Journal of Cancer
Volume	156
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2021.07.019
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

Cancer survivor
EUROPEAN-ORGANIZATION
Functioning
GENDER-DIFFERENCES
Gender
HEAD
OUTCOMES
QLQ-C30
QUALITY-OF-LIFE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Quality of life
Sex differences
Symptoms
TRIALS

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Cite this

@article{81e4f8343dfb491bb494deba2169c71c,

title = "Sex-differences in symptoms and functioning in > 5000 cancer survivors: Results from the profiles registry",

abstract = "BackgroundPrevious reports highlight the greater number of side effects that women experience during cancer treatment, but little is known about sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term survivors.MethodsWe investigated sex differences in the prevalence of physical (EORTC QLQ-C30) and emotional symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and loss of functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) in 5339 cancer survivors (55% males). General linear models were computed to assess the differences in symptoms and functioning between female and male cancer survivors and between survivors and an age-matched reference population.ResultsThe direct comparison between female and male cancer survivors identified more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting (M = 5.0 versus. 3.2), insomnia (M = 26.1 versus. 15.9), anxiety (M = 5.2 versus. 4.2), and lower physical (M = 77.5 versus. 82.5) and emotional functioning (M = 83.4 versus. 86.3), in female survivors. However, comparison with an age-matched reference population demonstrated that several symptoms, such as fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression, appeared to be more frequent in male patients. The investigation of functioning domains — compared with a reference population — highlighted further sex-specific differences. Female survivors experienced a moderate net loss in physical and cognitive functioning (−6.1 [95% CI = −8.1; −4,1] and −5.2 respectively [95% CI = −7; −3.5]), whereas male survivors displayed a significant net loss in role and social functioning compared to the reference population (−9.9 [95% CI = −11.2; −8.6] and −7.7 [95% CI = −9.6; −7.6] respectively).ConclusionTo adequately capture sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term cancer survivors, a comparison with a reference population should always be considered. In our study population, this adjustment highlighted a significant and unexpected long-term impact on male patients. Role and social functioning were especially impacted in male patients, emphasizing the need to further investigate these gendered domains.",

keywords = "Cancer survivor, EUROPEAN-ORGANIZATION, Functioning, GENDER-DIFFERENCES, Gender, HEAD, OUTCOMES, QLQ-C30, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, QUESTIONNAIRE, Quality of life, Sex differences, Symptoms, TRIALS",

author = "S. Oertelt-Prigione and {de Rooij}, B.H. and F. Mols and S. Oerlemans and O. Husson and D. Schoormans and J.B. Haanen and {van de Poll-Franse}, L.V.",

note = "No funds were specifically allocated to the performance of this study. The PROFILES registry was funded by the Dutch Research Council - Investment Grant Large ( 2016/04981/ZONMW-91101002 ).",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1016/j.ejca.2021.07.019",

language = "English",

volume = "156",

pages = "24--34",

journal = "European Journal of Cancer",

issn = "0964-1947",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sex-differences in symptoms and functioning in > 5000 cancer survivors

T2 - Results from the profiles registry

AU - Oertelt-Prigione, S.

AU - de Rooij, B.H.

AU - Mols, F.

AU - Oerlemans, S.

AU - Husson, O.

AU - Schoormans, D.

AU - Haanen, J.B.

AU - van de Poll-Franse, L.V.

N1 - No funds were specifically allocated to the performance of this study. The PROFILES registry was funded by the Dutch Research Council - Investment Grant Large ( 2016/04981/ZONMW-91101002 ).

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - BackgroundPrevious reports highlight the greater number of side effects that women experience during cancer treatment, but little is known about sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term survivors.MethodsWe investigated sex differences in the prevalence of physical (EORTC QLQ-C30) and emotional symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and loss of functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) in 5339 cancer survivors (55% males). General linear models were computed to assess the differences in symptoms and functioning between female and male cancer survivors and between survivors and an age-matched reference population.ResultsThe direct comparison between female and male cancer survivors identified more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting (M = 5.0 versus. 3.2), insomnia (M = 26.1 versus. 15.9), anxiety (M = 5.2 versus. 4.2), and lower physical (M = 77.5 versus. 82.5) and emotional functioning (M = 83.4 versus. 86.3), in female survivors. However, comparison with an age-matched reference population demonstrated that several symptoms, such as fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression, appeared to be more frequent in male patients. The investigation of functioning domains — compared with a reference population — highlighted further sex-specific differences. Female survivors experienced a moderate net loss in physical and cognitive functioning (−6.1 [95% CI = −8.1; −4,1] and −5.2 respectively [95% CI = −7; −3.5]), whereas male survivors displayed a significant net loss in role and social functioning compared to the reference population (−9.9 [95% CI = −11.2; −8.6] and −7.7 [95% CI = −9.6; −7.6] respectively).ConclusionTo adequately capture sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term cancer survivors, a comparison with a reference population should always be considered. In our study population, this adjustment highlighted a significant and unexpected long-term impact on male patients. Role and social functioning were especially impacted in male patients, emphasizing the need to further investigate these gendered domains.

AB - BackgroundPrevious reports highlight the greater number of side effects that women experience during cancer treatment, but little is known about sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term survivors.MethodsWe investigated sex differences in the prevalence of physical (EORTC QLQ-C30) and emotional symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and loss of functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) in 5339 cancer survivors (55% males). General linear models were computed to assess the differences in symptoms and functioning between female and male cancer survivors and between survivors and an age-matched reference population.ResultsThe direct comparison between female and male cancer survivors identified more symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting (M = 5.0 versus. 3.2), insomnia (M = 26.1 versus. 15.9), anxiety (M = 5.2 versus. 4.2), and lower physical (M = 77.5 versus. 82.5) and emotional functioning (M = 83.4 versus. 86.3), in female survivors. However, comparison with an age-matched reference population demonstrated that several symptoms, such as fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety and depression, appeared to be more frequent in male patients. The investigation of functioning domains — compared with a reference population — highlighted further sex-specific differences. Female survivors experienced a moderate net loss in physical and cognitive functioning (−6.1 [95% CI = −8.1; −4,1] and −5.2 respectively [95% CI = −7; −3.5]), whereas male survivors displayed a significant net loss in role and social functioning compared to the reference population (−9.9 [95% CI = −11.2; −8.6] and −7.7 [95% CI = −9.6; −7.6] respectively).ConclusionTo adequately capture sex differences in symptoms and functioning in long-term cancer survivors, a comparison with a reference population should always be considered. In our study population, this adjustment highlighted a significant and unexpected long-term impact on male patients. Role and social functioning were especially impacted in male patients, emphasizing the need to further investigate these gendered domains.

KW - Cancer survivor

KW - EUROPEAN-ORGANIZATION

KW - Functioning

KW - GENDER-DIFFERENCES

KW - Gender

KW - HEAD

KW - OUTCOMES

KW - QLQ-C30

KW - QUALITY-OF-LIFE

KW - QUESTIONNAIRE

KW - Quality of life

KW - Sex differences

KW - Symptoms

KW - TRIALS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112572507&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.07.019

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.07.019

M3 - Article

SN - 0964-1947

VL - 156

SP - 24

EP - 34

JO - European Journal of Cancer

JF - European Journal of Cancer

ER -

Sex-differences in symptoms and functioning in > 5000 cancer survivors: Results from the profiles registry

Abstract

Keywords

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