PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN BREAST CANCER: A LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN A REFERENCE ONCOLOGY CENTER IN AN UPPER-MIDDLE INCOME LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRY
Author(s)
Sandra Castillo-Ortiz, BN1, José Figueroa-Baños, MD1, Ariana LaCruz-Marquina, MD1, Néstor Llinás-Quintero, MD1, Samuel Agudelo-Gamboa, MSc1, Maria F. Mercado, MSc, MD1, David Mejía-Zapata, MBA, MSc, MD2, Paola Romero, MSc, MD1.
1Fundación Colombiana de Cancerología Clínica Vida, Medellín, Colombia, 2Fundación Colombiana de Cancerología Clínica Vida, MEDELLIN, Colombia.
1Fundación Colombiana de Cancerología Clínica Vida, Medellín, Colombia, 2Fundación Colombiana de Cancerología Clínica Vida, MEDELLIN, Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: In the context of breast cancer, Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is recognized as a fundamental Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO). The objective was to evaluate HRQoL in breast cancer patients treated at a reference oncology center in an Upper-Middle income Latin American country.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on breast cancer patients in Medellin, Colombia (2024-2025). HRQoL was longitudinally assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline data, and paired t-test were performed to evaluate changes over time. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of the 178 patients included (median age: 56 years [IQR: 47-63]; 52.8% Stage II; 70.8% HER2-negative; 67.4% ER+; 62.4% PR+; 84.3% underwent surgery), 155 completed a second evaluation (median follow-up: 17.3 months [IQR: 16.3 - 17.6]). The median time from diagnosis to the baseline survey was 3 months [IQR: 1 - 4]. Global HRQoL remained stable (77.5 ± 15.6 to 75.3 ± 22.0 points; mean difference: -2.2 points; p=0.24). However, significant domain-specific variations emerged. In the QLQ-C30, role functioning improved (+5.8 points; p=0.01), and nausea and vomiting decreased (-4.9 points; p<0.01), and pain scores worsened (+5.8 points; p=0.01). In the QLQ-BR23 module, body image improved (+13.2 points; p<0.001), and arm symptoms decreased (-7.3 points; p<0.001). Conversely, systemic therapy side effects increased (+8.0 points; p<0.001), and sexual functioning declined (-7.5 points; p<0.001). Other symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation) showed no conclusive changes.
CONCLUSIONS: Although global HRQoL remained stable over 16-17 months, domain-specific analysis revealed distinct changes: improvement in role functioning, nauseas and vomiting, arm symptoms, and body image. In contrast, an increase in pain, a higher burden of systemic therapy side effects, and a decline in sexual functioning were observed. These findings emphasize the value of longitudinal PRO monitoring to guide supportive care in resource-constrained oncological settings.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on breast cancer patients in Medellin, Colombia (2024-2025). HRQoL was longitudinally assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline data, and paired t-test were performed to evaluate changes over time. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Of the 178 patients included (median age: 56 years [IQR: 47-63]; 52.8% Stage II; 70.8% HER2-negative; 67.4% ER+; 62.4% PR+; 84.3% underwent surgery), 155 completed a second evaluation (median follow-up: 17.3 months [IQR: 16.3 - 17.6]). The median time from diagnosis to the baseline survey was 3 months [IQR: 1 - 4]. Global HRQoL remained stable (77.5 ± 15.6 to 75.3 ± 22.0 points; mean difference: -2.2 points; p=0.24). However, significant domain-specific variations emerged. In the QLQ-C30, role functioning improved (+5.8 points; p=0.01), and nausea and vomiting decreased (-4.9 points; p<0.01), and pain scores worsened (+5.8 points; p=0.01). In the QLQ-BR23 module, body image improved (+13.2 points; p<0.001), and arm symptoms decreased (-7.3 points; p<0.001). Conversely, systemic therapy side effects increased (+8.0 points; p<0.001), and sexual functioning declined (-7.5 points; p<0.001). Other symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation) showed no conclusive changes.
CONCLUSIONS: Although global HRQoL remained stable over 16-17 months, domain-specific analysis revealed distinct changes: improvement in role functioning, nauseas and vomiting, arm symptoms, and body image. In contrast, an increase in pain, a higher burden of systemic therapy side effects, and a decline in sexual functioning were observed. These findings emphasize the value of longitudinal PRO monitoring to guide supportive care in resource-constrained oncological settings.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
PCR181
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology