Distress levels in patients with oropharyngeal vs. non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck over 1 year after diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers have been associated with different demographic profiles and disease characteristics than HPV-unrelated cancers in head and neck patients, but distress and other symptoms have not been compared. The aim of this study was to assess whether distress levels, fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and common psychological and practical problems differ between head and neck cancer patients with HPV-related vs. HPV-unrelated carcinomas (using oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) and non-OPC cancers as surrogates for HPV status). Methods Distress, depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, and common problems were examined in 56 OPC and 90 non-OPC patients at 4 timepoints during the first year following diagnosis. Two-level hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine effects. Results The HPV-related OPC group was more likely to be younger ( p = 0.05), Caucasian ( p = 0.001), non-smokers ( p = 0.01), earn more ( p = 0.04), and present with more advanced stage ( p