Impact of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome on health-related quality of life and resource utilisation: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) negatively impacts patients' quality of life (QoL) and increases the burden on healthcare resources. OBJECTIVES: To review published CACS data regarding health-related QOL (HRQoL) and its economic impact on the healthcare system. METHODS: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, and NHS EED databases. RESULTS: A total of 458 HRQoL and 189 healthcare resources utilisation abstracts were screened, and 42 and 2 full-text articles were included, respectively. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and FAACT instruments were most favoured for assessing HRQOL but none of the current tools cover all domains affected by CACS. Economic estimates for managing CACS are scarce, with studies lacking a breakdown of healthcare resource utilisation items. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL instruments that can better assess and incorporate all the domains affected by CACS are required. Rigorous assessment of costs and benefits of treatment are needed to understand the magnitude of the impact of CACS.

A systematic literature review of the economic implications of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea and its impact on quality of life.

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) diminishes physical performance, raises anxiety and depression levels, and increases healthcare resource utilization. OBJECTIVE: To understand the impact that CID has on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and on healthcare resource utilization. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE, and the NHS EED databases. RESULTS: A total of 22 articles were retrieved for full review (n=17, HRQoL; n=5 healthcare resource utilization). Only 2 studies had assessed HRQoL in patients experiencing CID, while cost studies demonstrated that CID episodes are unnecessarily expensive and can be avoided if diagnosed and treated early. CONCLUSIONS: Better management of CID has the potential to reduce overall economic burden and improve patients' HRQoL. Available evidence also relays the need to conduct larger studies that assess HRQoL and consider cost beyond direct medical costs in order to understand the full impact of CID on HRQoL and healthcare resource utilization.