Norwegian general population normative data for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires: the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, the Sexual Health Questionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual domains of the QLQ-BR23/BR45

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide sex-, age-, and morbidity-specific Norwegian general population normative values for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires QLQ-C30, the sexual health ques-tionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual domains of the breast modules QLQ-BR23 and QLQ-BR45. Methods: A random nationwide sample stratified by sex and age groups (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and & GE;70 years) was drawn from the Norwegian National Population Register. Participants were notified through national online health services (HelseNorge) and postal mail. The survey included sociodemographic background information, health-related quality of life assessed by the EORTC questionnaires, and morbidity assessed by the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression was carried out to estimate the associations of age, sex and morbidity with the EORTC scale and item scores. Results: Of the 15,627 eligible individuals, 5135 (33%) responded. Women and persons with morbidities reported lower functioning and higher symptom burden than men and persons without morbidities, respectively, on nearly all EORTC scales. Sex differences were most prominent for emotional functioning, pain, fatigue and insomnia (QLQ-C30), body image, sexual functioning (QLQ-BR23/45), importance of sexual activity, libido and fatigue (QLQ-SHQ22). The score differences between persons with and without morbidity were highly significant and largest in the youngest and middle-aged groups. Conclusion: This is the first study to provide normative values for the EORTC sexual health questionnaire QLQ-SHQ22 and the sexual subscales of the QLQ-BR23 and QLQ-BR45 for all, separately in age groups by sex and morbidity. & COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to provide normative values for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires QLQ-C30, QLQ-SHQ22, QLQ-BR23, and QLQ-BR45 in the Norwegian general population. A random nationwide sample was drawn, and participants were notified through online health services and postal mail. The results showed that women and individuals with morbidities reported lower functioning and higher symptom burden. The study highlights the importance of considering age, sex, and morbidity when assessing health-related quality of life.