Is there a difference in quality of life, comparing summer and winter, in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy?

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have implied that patients' quality of life stabilises six months after undergoing total laryngectomy. However, these studies may well have overlooked persistent short term variations in patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of seasonal change (i.e. summer vs winter) on the quality of life of patients following total laryngectomy.

METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study of recurrence-free laryngectomy patients was performed, using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (version three) QLQ-C30 questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30), during January 2004 (i.e. winter), August 2004 (summer) and January 2005 (winter).

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were entered into the study. The response rate was 70.3 per cent. Patient's time elapsed since surgery varied from six months to 12 years. In all questionnaire domains, responses seemed remarkably consistent over time.

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant differences were found between summer and winter scores in all the domains analysed by the EORTC QLQ-C30.