Due to COVID-19 mass immunizations, most of the social restrictions were waived with subsequent effects on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Therefore, our hypothesis was that COVID-19 vaccination impacted HR-QoL in patients with breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies.
From 15/03/2022 - 11/08/2022, fully vaccinated patients with breast cancer treated in the gynecologic outpatient clinics of the LMU University Hospital were surveyed. Evaluated were demographic data (age, comorbidities) and clinical parameters as well as HR-QoL-related parameters (occupational situation, responsibilities in daily life). In addition, a newly designed questionnaire with 12 items and a 5-point Likert scale was used, covering the aspects of health and therapy, social environment, participation in daily life, and overall assessment. Higher scores in the questionnaire indicate a higher impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the patients’ HR-QoL.
By 11/08/2022, 79/83 (95.1%) of the patients had received at least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine. 55.4% of the patients surveyed were <55 years (median: 51 years, range 30-86 years). The patients had early (59.0%) or metastatic breast cancer (41.0%). The patients mostly received chemotherapy (32.5%), targeted therapies (20.5%), or a combination of both (19.3%). 86.7% of patients reported that COVID-19 vaccination had a positive impact on their HR-QoL. 84.3% participated more in their everyday life (e.g., work, or social life), and 72.3% of the patients spent more time practicing sports after receiving complete vaccine protection. Patients with comorbidities had significantly lower mean total scores (p<0.01) indicating less impact of the vaccine on their HR-QoL.
Our study points out that vaccination against COVID-19 had a positive impact, especially regarding participation in everyday life, on HR-QoL in patients with breast cancer and gynecological malignancies.
Breast Center/ LMU Munich.
Has not received any funding.
S. Mahner: Financial interests, Personal, Research Grant: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Clovis, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Hubro, Medac, MSD, Novartis, Nykode, Olympus, PharmaMar, Pfizer, Roche, Sensor Kinesis, Teva, Tesaro.Financial interests, Personal, Advisory Board: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Clovis, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Hubro, Medac, MSD, Novartis, Nykode, Olympus, PharmaMar, Pfizer, Roche, Sensor Kinesis, Teva, Tesaro. Financial interests, Personal, Other, Honoraria or Travel expenses: AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Clovis, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Hubro, Medac, MSD, Novartis, Nykode, Olympus, PharmaMar, Pfizer, Roche, Sensor Kinesis, Teva, Tesaro. N. Harbeck: Financial interests, Personal, Other, Horaria for lectures and/or consulting: AstraZeneca, Daiichi-Sankyo, Gilead, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pierre-Fabre, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Sandoz, Seagen. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.