Health‐related quality of life following treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Background and Objectives The primary objective of this study was to estimate the change in health‐related quality of life (HRQL) 1 year following treatment for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS), measured by the EQ‐5D. Secondary objectives included determining clinical variables associated with HRQL at 1 year, estimating the proportion with a clinically important difference (CID) in HRQL, and evaluating variability within EQ‐5D domains. Methods Patients over the age of 16 years, treated for a localized extremity STS, were included. The EQ‐5D change score from pre‐treatment to 1‐year follow‐up was determined. The association of clinical variables with EQ‐5D scores was estimated using a linear regression model. The proportion of patients with a CID in HRQL score was determined. A vector analysis of the EQ‐5D domains was undertaken. Results The mean EQ‐5D change score was 0.02. Age, sex, disease status, and initial EQ‐5D score were associated with EQ‐5D score at 1 year. There was a CID improvement in 32% and a deterioration in 24%. The anxiety and depression domain demonstrated the most change between baseline and 1 year after treatment. Conclusion Most patients maintain a high level of HRQL following treatment for extremity STS. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:821–827 . © 2016 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.