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Table 5 Prevalence and worst aspects of physical, social, and emotional distress at T1–T4 (n = 36)

From: Health related quality of life and psychosocial function among patients with carcinoid tumours. A longitudinal, prospective, and comparative study

  T1 T2 T3 T4
  Prevalence Worst1 Prevalence Worst1 Prevalence Worst1 Prevalence Worst1
Physical distress         
Fatigue 25 (69%) 11 31 (86%) 15 32 (89%) 12 30 (83%) 17
Diarrhoea 18 (50%) 10 20 (56%) 10 22 (61%) 11 25 (69%) 13
Dry skin/mucous membranes 14 (39%) 2 22 (61%) 5 22 (61%) 3 25 (69%) 6
Pain-stomach 18 (50%) 4 20 (56%) 3 20 (56%) 8 23 (64%) 4
Dyspnoea 18 (50%) 3 21 (58%) 5 20 (56%) 8 21 (58%) 10
Flush 19 (53%) 8 21 (58%) 1 21 (58%) 5 11 (30%) 1
Appetite loss 14 (39%) 1 17 (47%) 5 21 (58%) 4 15 (42%) 4
Pain-muscles 15 (42%) 1 17 (47%) 6 15 (42%) 5 18 (50%) 6
Nausea 14 (39%) 1 15 (42%) 3 19 (53%) 5 17 (47%) 6
Insomnia 13 (36%) 4 15 (42%) 3 17 (47%) 1 18 (50%) 5
Social distress         13
Work/pursue daily activities 23 (64%) 15 24 (67%) 15 24 (67%) 13 26 (72%) 6
Perform physical activities 23 (64%) 7 23 (64%) 3 25 (69%) 10 27 (75%) 6
To travel 20 (56%) 2 17 (47%) 5 23 (64%) 8 21 (58%) 2
Dine out/go to theatre etc 17 (47%) - 18 (50%) 3 19 (53%) 6 19 (53%) 6
Associate with friends 17 (47%) 3 17 (47%) 3 20 (56%) 6 18 (50%)  
Emotional distress         
Worry that the illness will get worse 33 (92%) 20 32 (89%) 10 30 (83%) 16 31 (86%) 16
Depression 32 (89%) 1 27 (75%) 5 29 (80%) 9 26 (72%) 10
Irritation 27 (75%) 5 26 (72%) 5 29 (80%) 6 27 (75%) 6
Worry that the family can not cope with the illness 29 (80%) 6 29 (80%) 4 25 (69%) 5 23 (64%) 7
Worry before check-up 27 (75%) 4 25 (69%) 3 24 (67%) 7 26 (72%) 7
Worry that the illness will interfere with ability to care for the family 25 (69%) 5 21 (58%) 3 24 (67%) 5 22 (61%) 1
Troublesome tests/examinations 25 (69%) 4 17 (47%) 4 20 (56%) 1 24 (67%) 2
Bother by changed appearance 7 (19%) - 14 (39%) 1 18 (50%) 2 17 (47%) 3
Bother by changed sexual activity 13 (36%) - 14 (39%) - 16 (44%) 1 19 (53%) 2
  1. 1 Some patients reported more than one aspect of distress as being worst.
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