Quality of life (QoL) is a particularly important issue for cancer patients. This study was designed to investigate the differences in QoL in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who underwent inpatient chemotherapy (IPCT) or outpatient chemotherapy (OPCT). A total of 107 ESCC patients were enrolled, including 53 patients in the IPCT group and 54 patients in the OPCT group. The widely used and well-validated instruments European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Items (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Oesophageal Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-OES18) were used to examine the QoL of the two groups. In addition, the differences in adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. The results of QLQ C-30 analysis showed that mean global quality of life scores were similar between IPCT and OPCT groups, as were functional and symptom scales. There were no significant differences in the functional and symptom scales in the analysis of QLQ OES18 either. Most AEs of chemotherapy were grades 1-2, and the majority of patients tolerated the side effects; no statistically significant difference in AEs between these two groups was mentioned. Our study suggests that the health-related QoL and adverse events in ESCC patients who received IPCT or OPCT are similar. OPCT is reasonable and safe in clinical practice.
Keywords: esophageal cancer; inpatient chemotherapy; outpatient chemotherapy; quality of life.