Do older adult cancer survivors experience worse health-related quality of life in comparison to middle-aged cancer survivors? A secondary data analysis of the 2014 behavioral risk factor surveillance study

The primary aim of this paper was to examine the potential differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between middle-aged (45–64 years old) and older adult (65 years and older) cancer survivors utilizing the contextual model of health-related quality of life. The author conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2014 behavioral risk factor surveillance system cancer survivorship module survey. Only respondents age 45 and older were included, resulting in n = 5656. Older adult cancer survivors reported significantly better physical and mental HRQOL than middle-aged cancer survivors. In regard to physical HRQOL, respondents who were older adults, employed, completed treatment, and exercised recently were more likely to report good physical HRQOL. Respondents with comorbid conditions and those with greater years since diagnosis were more likely to report poor HRQOL. In regard to mental HRQOL, respondents who were older, married, or had completed treatment were more likely to have good mental HRQOL. Respondents who were unemployed, had experienced financial cost as a barrier to care, had stroke or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or a history of depression were more likely to report poor mental HRQOL. Older adult cancer survivors experience better mental and physical HRQOL compared to their middle-aged counterparts. Efforts to improve HRQOL in cancer survivors should include middle-aged adults as well as cancer survivors who are unmarried, still in treatment, or have comorbidities. Greater research is needed to better understand how age differentially affects HRQOL in persons with a cancer history.