Abstract 871P
Background
Cognitive impairment after cancer treatment has mainly been studied in breast cancer survivors but there is little data in gynaecological cancer survivors. Especially for cervical cancer survivors, who often are young with a long-life expectancy after treatment and expected to return to their personal and professional lives, cognitive impairment may be a major obstacle. This study aims to assess the prevalence of cognitive impairment in cervical cancer survivors and to study the association with other domains of quality of life (QoL).
Methods
This cross-sectional survey included 621 women between 18 and 65 years of age at least one year after treatment for cervical cancer at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, with either concomitant radio-chemotherapy (CCRT) (n=458) or surgery only (n=163). Self-reported cognitive impairment was assessed with FACT-Cog V3.0. Other QoL domains were assessed with EORTC C30 and HADS. A FACT-Cog score below 1.5 SD (standard deviation) of normative mean on subscales Perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) or Perceived cognitive ability (PCA) was used to define significant subjective cognitive complains.
Results
In total, 254 (41%) eligible women responded. 204 pts after CCRT, 50 pts after surgery only. Median age was 49.2. Significantly more patients after CCRT reported cognitive impairment compared to patients after surgery (44.1% vs 16%, p<.001). Patients after CCRT reported significantly more cognitive complains on PCI and PCA compared to surgery only (p<.001). In both groups cognitive complains was significantly associated with anxiety, depression and the EORTC subscale of fatigue (all p<.001). Patients after CCRT also scored lower on the EORTC subscales of fatigue, physical-, role-, social-, and cognitive functioning. Between group differences in PCI and PCA remained significant when including depression score in the model, but not when controlling for fatigue.
Conclusions
Almost half of the patients after CCRT report significant cognitive impairment, which seems to be treatment induced. This late effect is associated with other indicators of poor QoL. Objective testing for cognitive impairment and understanding of associated late effects like fatigue is crucial to customize successful interventions.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
K. Lindemann: Honoraria (institution): AstraZeneca; Advisory/Consultancy: GSK. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.