Problem alcohol and tobacco use in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis: associations with health-related quality of life

M. Bryant Howren; Alan J. Christensen; Nitin A. Pagedar

doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07248-3

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Problem alcohol and tobacco use in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis: associations with health-related quality of life

Journal article

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Problem alcohol and tobacco use in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis: associations with health-related quality of life

M. Bryant Howren, Alan J. Christensen and Nitin A. Pagedar

Supportive care in cancer, Vol.30(10), pp.8111-8118

07/01/2022

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07248-3

PMCID: PMC9247907

PMID: 35776184

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Abstract

Purpose Problem alcohol and tobacco use in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) frequently co-occur and each are associated with poor outcomes including health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study was to identify the prevalence of these co-occurring behaviors and associations with HNC-specific HRQOL within the first year of diagnosis in a large sample of patients with HNC. Methods Cross-sectional study examined prevalence of co-occurring problem alcohol and tobacco use at diagnosis in a large sample of patients with HNC (N = 1327). Problem alcohol use was assessed using the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST); patients were classified as current/previous/never smokers based on self-reported tobacco use. HNC-specific HRQOL was assessed using the Head and Neck Cancer Inventory (HNCI), measured at diagnosis and 3 and 12 months postdiagnosis. Results Three hundred twenty-five of 1327 (24.5%) scored 3 + on the SMAST at diagnosis, suggesting problem alcohol use and nearly 30% (28.4%) were current smokers. Of those with problem alcohol use, 173 (53.2%) were also current smokers. In total, 173 of 1327 (13.0%) exhibited both behaviors at diagnosis. Covariate-adjusted mean HNCI scores suggest that patients classified as both problem drinkers and current smokers have lower HRQOL scores during the first year postdiagnosis in multiple HNC-specific domains. Conclusion HNC patients should be screened for alcohol and tobacco use at diagnosis. Multimodal behavioral health interventions may provide one avenue for improved access and outcomes, particularly for patients at distance, and deserve further study in HNC.

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Problem alcohol and tobacco use in head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis: associations with health-related quality of life
Creators: M. Bryant Howren - Iowa City VA Health Care System
Alan J. Christensen - East Carolina University
Nitin A. Pagedar - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Supportive care in cancer, Vol.30(10), pp.8111-8118
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07248-3
PMID: 35776184
PMCID: PMC9247907
NLM abbreviation: Support Care Cancer
ISSN: 0941-4355
eISSN: 1433-7339
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 8
Grant note: P30 CA086862 / University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center National Cancer Institute; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) 14381 / VA Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City (VRHRC-IC), Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
Language: English
Date published: 07/01/2022
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984311438502771

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