PurposeThe aim of this research was to examine heterogeneity of Health-related Quality of Life (HrQOL) in Cancer Survivors (both undergoing and completed treatment) using latent profile analysis and to determine whether these groups differed by demographic and health characteristics.MethodsParticipants(n=229) recruited through an oncology day ward and outpatient department in a local hospital, completed height, weight and handgrip measures as well as the validated patient generated subjective global assessment and EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaires. A latent profile analysis was performed to identify subgroups based on HrQOL domain scores. Multinominal Logistic Regression was conducted to determine the relationship between these subgroups and demographic and health characteristics. ResultsThree latent subtypes were identified: (1)high quality of life(n=122, 52.8%); (2)compromised quality of life(n=79, 34.2%) and (3)low quality of life(n=30, 12.99%). All subtypes scored lower for functioning scales (with the exception of the higher quality of life group for physical, role and emotional functioning) and higher for symptom scales then the reference norm population. There were large clinically meaningful differences between the high quality of life group and the low quality of life group for all HrQOL scales. Those in the low quality of life group were slightly younger than those in the high quality of life group(OR = 0.956, p < .05, CI = 0.917– 0.998). Workers were >7 times more likely to be in low quality of life than the high quality of life group. Compared to the high quality of life group, the odds of belonging to the compromised quality of life group decreased significantly by having higher handgrip strength (OR = .955, p < .05, CI = .924 - .988). The odds of belonging to the low quality of life group increased significantly for those with higher number of nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) (OR = 1.375, p < .05, CI = 1.004 – 1.883).ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine heterogeneity of HrQOL using latent profile analysis in Irish Cancer Survivors. In clinical practice understanding how aspects of HrQOL group together may allow clinicians to better understand and treat cancer survivors, informing more individualised nutrition care.<br/
