Impact of Caregiving on the Disease Burden Among Patients With Female-Specific Cancers (Breast, Cervical, Ovarian, Uterine) in Japan
Author(s)
Amanda Woo, PhD1, Nikoletta Sternbach, BA2, Maria Choufany, PhD3, Neeyor Bose, PhD1.
1Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA, 3Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France.
1Oracle Life Sciences, Singapore, Singapore, 2Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA, 3Oracle Life Sciences, Paris, France.
OBJECTIVES: As the burden of female-specific cancers (breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine) is expected to increase, patients may be challenged by caregiving responsibilities while simultaneously managing their own cancer treatment. This study examined how the dual role of managing cancer and caregiving impacts the quality of life of female-specific cancer patients in Japan.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2024 Japan National Health Wellness Survey. Study population included female cancer patients aged ≥18 years with self-reported physician-diagnosis of any female-specific cancer and sub-categorized into “Caregivers” (having cared for any adult and/or children of any condition) and “Non-Caregivers”. Bivariate analyses were used to compare the demographic characteristics, prevalence of mental health conditions, health-related quality of life, and work productivity and work impairment among the patients.
RESULTS: Compared to non-caregivers, a higher proportion of caregivers were married or living with a partner (75.4% vs. 58.2%, p=0.007), had Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 (29.0% vs. 16.9%, p=0.017) and higher CCI score (3.36 vs. 2.20, p<0.001). Caregivers were more likely to have significantly lower health state (EQ-5D-5L: 0.75 vs. 0.80, p=0.030; EQ VAS: 62.8 vs. 70.3, p=0.008) and exhibited symptoms of depression (measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]≥10: 30.4% vs. 14.4%, p=0.001) or anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]≥10: 23.2% vs. 8.4%, p<0.001). Caregivers also reported significantly higher absenteeism (15.1% vs. 5.6%), presenteeism (28.8% vs. 18.1%) and total work productivity impairment (35.5% vs. 19.7%) than non-caregivers (all p<0.05). Increased rates of emotional and mental conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia) were also observed among caregivers than non-caregivers (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The study findings showed a negative impact of caregiving on female-specific cancer patients. This highlighted the unmet need for interventions to alleviate caregiving responsibilities among female-specific cancer patients to reduce their disease burden and improve their overall quality of life.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2024 Japan National Health Wellness Survey. Study population included female cancer patients aged ≥18 years with self-reported physician-diagnosis of any female-specific cancer and sub-categorized into “Caregivers” (having cared for any adult and/or children of any condition) and “Non-Caregivers”. Bivariate analyses were used to compare the demographic characteristics, prevalence of mental health conditions, health-related quality of life, and work productivity and work impairment among the patients.
RESULTS: Compared to non-caregivers, a higher proportion of caregivers were married or living with a partner (75.4% vs. 58.2%, p=0.007), had Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 (29.0% vs. 16.9%, p=0.017) and higher CCI score (3.36 vs. 2.20, p<0.001). Caregivers were more likely to have significantly lower health state (EQ-5D-5L: 0.75 vs. 0.80, p=0.030; EQ VAS: 62.8 vs. 70.3, p=0.008) and exhibited symptoms of depression (measured by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]≥10: 30.4% vs. 14.4%, p=0.001) or anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]≥10: 23.2% vs. 8.4%, p<0.001). Caregivers also reported significantly higher absenteeism (15.1% vs. 5.6%), presenteeism (28.8% vs. 18.1%) and total work productivity impairment (35.5% vs. 19.7%) than non-caregivers (all p<0.05). Increased rates of emotional and mental conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia) were also observed among caregivers than non-caregivers (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The study findings showed a negative impact of caregiving on female-specific cancer patients. This highlighted the unmet need for interventions to alleviate caregiving responsibilities among female-specific cancer patients to reduce their disease burden and improve their overall quality of life.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD305
Topic Subcategory
Reproducibility & Replicability
Disease
SDC: Oncology