OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of various therapies on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC).

METHODS: From inception through 2022, we conducted a literature search utilizing databases (Embase, PubMed, Medline) and grey literature searches. Data was gathered from studies that presented HRQoL data for GBC patients.

RESULTS: A total of four studies were found, with two using a generic instrument such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the other two using a cancer-specific instrument such as the EORTC QLQ C-30 to assess quality of life (QoL) change. The condition of GBC patients was shown to be improved by endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus neurolysis (EUS-CPN). At 2 and 4 weeks following therapy, EUS-CPN resulted in a nearly 90% reduction in pain intensity as indicated by VAS relative to baseline (p<0.001). By week two, over 95% of patients had seen total or partial pain alleviation. Similarly, patients who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy or laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy in China had their quality of life improved (p<0.001) by the combined effects of epidural and general anesthesia (CEGA). The VAS score in the general anesthesia group was 2.7±1.4, whereas it was 1.4±1.5 in the CEGA group. Patients with GBC who had gemcitabine-oxaliplatin in combination with huachansu injectable treatment improved their QoL by 10 to 20 points, with the global score increased from 52.3±20.0 at the onset to 65.3±22.4 after a month. At three months, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was considerably better than endoscopic stenting in terms of EORTC QLQ C-30 global health status (75 vs 30.5;p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a scarcity of information regarding GBC patients' HRQoL. GBC is observed to impact Asian patients the most. To fill the gaps in knowledge, more research on HRQoL among GBC populations is needed.