Introduction: Quality of life is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to changes in the daily routine, there was a change in the psychosocial functioning of individuals. Given that laryngectomized patients belong to a vulnerable group that requires psychological support after surgery, specific epidemiological measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could only further increase the fear and reluctance that is especially pronounced after surgery. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a link between the quality of life of laryngectomized patients and the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The literature review was performed through the Google Scholar Advanced Search search engine and the Consortium of Libraries of Serbia for Unified Acqusition - KoBSON. Results: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the emotional well-being of patients with head and neck cancer. These patients became even more anxious due to the high mortality from the COVID-19 viral infection, hospital occupancy and missed therapeutic examinations. The need for togetherness, impaired concentration and attention, irritability and fear that family members might suffer from a deadly disease were the most common behavioral problems identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The psychological burden associated with the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be overlooked, given the fact that laryngectomized patients have twice the risk of suicide compared to patients who have undergone other types of cancer. Assessing the quality of life in laryngectomized patients is very important because it enables the timely identification of mental disorders and suggests the necessary support measures.
References
1.
Falcone R, Grani G, Ramundo V, Melcarne R, Giacomelli L, Filetti S, et al. Cancer Care During COVID-19 Era: The Quality of Life of Patients With Thyroid Malignancies. Frontiers in Oncology. 10.
2.
Stordeur S, Schillemans V, Savoye I, Vanschoenbeek K, Leroy R, Macq G, et al. Comorbidity in head and neck cancer: Is it associated with therapeutic delay, post-treatment mortality and survival in a population-based study? Oral Oncology. 2020;102:104561.
3.
Chow VLY, Chan JYW, Ho VWY, Pang SSY, Lee GCC, Wong MMK, et al. Tracheostomy during <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic—Novel approach. Head & Neck. 2020;42(7):1367–73.
4.
Wei W, Zheng D, Lei Y, Wu S, Verma V, Liu Y, et al. Radiotherapy workflow and protection procedures during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak: Experience of the Hubei Cancer Hospital in Wuhan, China. Radiotherapy and Oncology. 2020;148:203–10.
5.
Longobardi Y, Parrilla C, Di Cintio G, De Corso E, Marenda ME, Mari G, et al. Olfactory perception rehabilitation after total laryngectomy (OPRAT): proposal of a new protocol based on training of sensory perception skills. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2020;277(7):2095–105.
6.
Bunijevac M, Petrovic-Lazic M. Early vocal rehabilitation and its impact on the quality of life of laryngectomized patients. Specijalna edukacija i rehabilitacija. 2016;15(4):379–93.
7.
Bunijevac M, Petrović-Lazić M, Maksimović S. Quality of life of patients after total laryngectomy. 2017.
8.
Bui AT, Yong Ji KS, Pham CT, Le KM, Tong TX, Lee WT. Longitudinal evaluation of quality of life in Laryngeal Cancer patients treated with surgery. International Journal of Surgery. 2018;58:65–70.
9.
Petrović-Lazić M. Psihičke tegobe sa kojima se suočava laringektomirani bolesnik. Beogradska defektološka škola. 2006;3:75–80.
10.
Liang W, Guan W, Chen R, Wang W, Li J, Xu K, et al. Cancer patients in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide analysis in China. The Lancet Oncology. 2020;21(3):335–7.
11.
Sotgiu G, Dobler CC. Social stigma in the time of coronavirus disease 2019. European Respiratory Journal. 2020;56(2):2002461.
12.
Jiao WY, Wang LN, Liu J, Fang SF, Jiao FY, Pettoello-Mantovani M, et al. Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children during the COVID-19 Epidemic. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2020;221:264-266.e1.
13.
Yan F, Nguyen SA. Head and neck cancer: <scp>high‐risk</scp> population for <scp>COVID</scp>‐19. Head & Neck. 2020;42(6):1150–2.
14.
Lima CKT, Carvalho PM de M, Lima I de AAS, Nunes JVA de O, Saraiva JS, de Souza RI, et al. The emotional impact of Coronavirus 2019-nCoV (new Coronavirus disease). Psychiatry Research. 2020;287:112915.
15.
Buselli R, Corsi M, Baldanzi S, Chiumiento M, Del Lupo E, Dell’Oste V, et al. Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes among Health Care Workers Exposed to Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17(17):6180.
16.
Yang K, Sheng Y, Huang C, Jin Y, Xiong N, Jiang K, et al. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality in patients with cancer and COVID-19 in Hubei, China: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study. The Lancet Oncology. 2020;21(7):904–13.
17.
Lambertini M, Toss A, Passaro A, Criscitiello C, Cremolini C, Cardone C, et al. Cancer care during the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy: young oncologists’ perspective. ESMO Open. 2020;5(2):e000759.
18.
Wang Y, Duan Z, Ma Z, Mao Y, Li X, Wilson A, et al. Epidemiology of mental health problems among patients with cancer during COVID-19 pandemic. Translational Psychiatry. 10(1).
19.
Duan L, Zhu G. Psychological interventions for people affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):300–2.
20.
Bargon CA, Batenburg MCT, van Stam LE, Mink van der Molen DR, van Dam IE, van der Leij F, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient-Reported Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors. JNCI Cancer Spectrum. 2021;5(1).
21.
Frey MK, Ellis AE, Zeligs K, Chapman-Davis E, Thomas C, Christos PJ, et al. Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020;223(5):725.e1-725.e9.
22.
Romito F, Dellino M, Loseto G, Opinto G, Silvestris E, Cormio C, et al. Psychological Distress in Outpatients With Lymphoma During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Oncology. 10.
23.
Košir U, Loades M, Wild J, Wiedemann M, Krajnc A, Roškar S, et al. The impact of COVID‐19 on the cancer care of adolescents and young adults and their well‐being: Results from an online survey conducted in the early stages of the pandemic. Cancer. 2020;126(19):4414–22.
24.
Gallo O, Bruno C, Locatello LG, Martelli F, Cilona M, Orlando P, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of head and neck cancer survivors. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2021;29(11):6297–304.
25.
Longobardi Y, Galli J, D’Alatri L, Savoia V, Mari G, Rigante M, et al. Patients With Voice Prosthesis Rehabilitation During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Remote Triage and Management. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2021;164(2):277–84.
26.
Bonomi AE, Patrick DL, Bushnell DM, Martin M. Quality of life measurement Will we ever be satisfied? Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2000;53(1):19–23.
27.
Dalton L, Rapa E, Stein A. Protecting the psychological health of children through effective communication about COVID-19. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2020;4(5):346–7.
28.
Centre for Disease Control. Helping Children Cope with Emergencies. 2020.
29.
Organisation WH. Coronavirus Disease. WHO. 2020;
30.
Triantafillou V, Rajasekaran K. A Commentary on the Challenges of Telemedicine for Head and Neck Oncologic Patients during COVID‐19. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2020;163(1):81–2.
31.
de Joode K, Dumoulin DW, Engelen V, Bloemendal HJ, Verheij M, van Laarhoven HWM, et al. Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on cancer treatment: the patients’ perspective. European Journal of Cancer. 2020;136:132–9.
32.
Day AT, Sher DJ, Lee RC, Truelson JM, Myers LL, Sumer BD, et al. Head and neck oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic: Reconsidering traditional treatment paradigms in light of new surgical and other multilevel risks. Oral Oncology. 2020;105:104684.
33.
Sharma A, Crosby DL. Special considerations for elderly patients with head and neck cancer during the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic. Head & Neck. 2020;42(6):1147–9.
34.
HILGERS FJM, ACKERSTAFF AH, AARONSON NK, SCHOUWENBURG PF, ZANDWIJK N. Physical and psychosocial consequences of total laryngectomy. Clinical Otolaryngology. 1990;15(5):421–5.
35.
Petrović-Lazić M, Kulić M. Biološki aspekti komunikacije kod laringektomiranih bolesnika. In: Univerzitet u istočnom Sarajevu: Medicinski fakultet Foča. 2014.
36.
Hennessy M, Bann DV, Patel VA, Saadi R, Krempl GA, Deschler DG, et al. Commentary on the management of total laryngectomy patients during the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic. Head & Neck. 2020;42(6):1137–43.
37.
Organisation WH. Study protocol for the World Health Organization project to develop a Quality of Life assessment instrument. WHO. 1993;
38.
British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists. BAHNO laryngectomy guidance during COVID-19 pandemic. BANHO. 2020;
39.
Šehović I, Petrović-Lazić M, Jovanović-Simić N, Kulić M. The Speech of Laryngectomized patients: Esophageal speech and Tracheoesophageal vocal prosthesis. In: Early Intervention in Special Education and Rehabilitation. 2016. p. 323–34.
40.
Lorenz KJ. Rehabilitation after Total Laryngectomy—A Tribute to the Pioneers of Voice Restoration in the Last Two Centuries. Frontiers in Medicine. 4.
41.
Šehović I, Petrović Lazić M. Razumljivost govora kod laringektomiranih bolesnika koji koriste različite oblike govorne komunikacije. Spec Edukac Rehabil. 2016;15(2):191–205.
42.
Ciążyńska M, Pabianek M, Szczepaniak K, Ułańska M, Skibińska M, Owczarek W, et al. Quality of life of cancer patients during coronavirus disease (<scp>COVID</scp>‐19) pandemic. Psycho-Oncology. 2020;29(9):1377–9.
43.
American Speech Language Hearing Association. Scope of practice in speech and language pathology. ASHA. 2007;
44.
Taylor S. The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease. 2019.
45.
Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, Pippi R, D’Agata V, Palma A, et al. The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04315.
46.
Goethals L, Barth N, Guyot J, Hupin D, Celarier T, Bongue B. Impact of Home Quarantine on Physical Activity Among Older Adults Living at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Interview Study. JMIR Aging. 3(1):e19007.
47.
De Felice F, Polimeni A, Tombolini V. The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on head and neck cancer patients’ care. Radiotherapy and Oncology. 2020;147:84–5.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
,
