TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of tranquilizers and sleeping pills among cancer patients is associated with a poorer quality of life
AU - Paltiel, O.
AU - Marzec-Boguslawska, A.
AU - Soskolne, V.
AU - Massalha, S.
AU - Avitzour, M.
AU - Pfeffer, R.
AU - Cherny, N.
AU - Peretz, T.
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate the association between sleeping pill/tranquilizer (SP/T) use and quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients. Patients and methods: Oncology patients (n = 909) in three Israeli hospitals were interviewed in clinics, day centers and in-patient departments regarding SP/T use in the previous week. Crude and adjusted QOL scores, measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), were compared in users vs. non-users. Results: Sleeping pill/tranquilizer use was self-reported by 234 (25.7%) participants, but rarely documented in medical charts. Factors associated with SP/T use were female gender (adjusted Odds ratio, OR: 1.79; 95% Confidence interval, CI: 1.22-2.62, age (OR: 4.6; 95% CI: 1.66-12.53 for age 70‰+‰), place of birth (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.19-3.26 for Eastern Europe compared with Israel), concomitant use of painkillers (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.97-4.20) and presence of cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.48-3.91). Controlling these factors as well as disease status, users had a poorer QOL on all functional scales (P < 0.001) as well as global QOL. Furthermore, users reported increased severity of symptoms, especially fatigue, insomnia, pain, dyspnea and constipation (P < 0.01), compared to non-users. Conclusions: Use of SP/T, reported by one fourth of cancer patients, was associated with substantially poorer QOL and increased severity of symptoms. Causal inference is not possible given the cross-sectional design. Periodic inquiry regarding use of these medications in the Oncology Clinic is recommended since it may identify patients with poor QOL and unmet needs.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate the association between sleeping pill/tranquilizer (SP/T) use and quality of life (QOL) among cancer patients. Patients and methods: Oncology patients (n = 909) in three Israeli hospitals were interviewed in clinics, day centers and in-patient departments regarding SP/T use in the previous week. Crude and adjusted QOL scores, measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), were compared in users vs. non-users. Results: Sleeping pill/tranquilizer use was self-reported by 234 (25.7%) participants, but rarely documented in medical charts. Factors associated with SP/T use were female gender (adjusted Odds ratio, OR: 1.79; 95% Confidence interval, CI: 1.22-2.62, age (OR: 4.6; 95% CI: 1.66-12.53 for age 70‰+‰), place of birth (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.19-3.26 for Eastern Europe compared with Israel), concomitant use of painkillers (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.97-4.20) and presence of cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.48-3.91). Controlling these factors as well as disease status, users had a poorer QOL on all functional scales (P < 0.001) as well as global QOL. Furthermore, users reported increased severity of symptoms, especially fatigue, insomnia, pain, dyspnea and constipation (P < 0.01), compared to non-users. Conclusions: Use of SP/T, reported by one fourth of cancer patients, was associated with substantially poorer QOL and increased severity of symptoms. Causal inference is not possible given the cross-sectional design. Periodic inquiry regarding use of these medications in the Oncology Clinic is recommended since it may identify patients with poor QOL and unmet needs.
KW - Cancer
KW - Quality of life
KW - Sleeping medications
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=13844298343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11136-004-8745-1
DO - 10.1007/s11136-004-8745-1
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C2 - 15651540
AN - SCOPUS:13844298343
SN - 0962-9343
VL - 13
SP - 1699
EP - 1706
JO - Quality of Life Research
JF - Quality of Life Research
IS - 10
ER -
