Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: This study aims to investigate clinical and demographic variables associated with HRQoL as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30) Tagalog and the Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (TCS QLQ) Tagalog.

Methodology: 234 adult Filipinos with histopathologic-confirmed diagnosis of DTCafter thyroidectomy with or without radioactive iodine were recruited and asked to answerthe EORTC QLQ-C30 and TCS QLQ Tagalog versions. Demographics and clinical data were collected. Factors influencing HRQoL scales were analyzed using multivariate linear and logistic regression.

Results: Adult Filipinos with DTC showed a high a level of functionality (EORTC QLQ C-C30 functional and global domain score range 72–84) and low level of thyroid specific complaints like neck pain and hoarseness (TCS QLQ Tagalog score range 1.6–2.06). Additionally, they report a moderate level of fear about cancer recurrence and repeat treatments. Multivariate analysis identified Stage IV disease, neck dissection, comorbidity, hypothyroidism, and middle-income class being associated with lower quality of life scores in the two questionnaires.

Conclusion: Adult Filipinos with DTC following up after thyroidectomy have good HRQoL overall. Socio-economic status and a few clinical and treatment-related factors negatively influenced HRQoL in this population.