Patients with gynecological cancer often face emotional distress, specifically anxiety, as well as physiological challenges like hypertension, both of which can seriously diminish their quality of life (QoL). A recent study sought to elucidate the complex interaction between anxiety, hypertension, and perceived social support (PSS) and how these factors collectively impact the QOL of patients with gynecological cancer.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020, involving 566 patients from the Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. Participants completed self-report assessments, including the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) to measure anxiety levels, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General tool (FACT-G) to assess QoL, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) to measure perceived social support.
The study identified a significant interaction between anxiety and hypertension, with 68.8% of patients experiencing poor QoL due to this correspondence. The relative excess risk ratio (RERI) was 22.238 (95%CI: 44.119-88.596), indicating a substantial combined impact. The attribution ratio (AP) was 0.688 (95%CI: 0.234-1.142), and the interaction index (S) was 3.466 (95%CI: 0.823-14.435). Additionally, perceived social support was found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between anxiety and QoL (β = -0.219, P<.01), explaining an additional 4.0% variance (F = 68.649, Adjusted R² = 0.399, ΔR2 = 0.040, P<.01). However, the interaction between perceived social support and blood pressure was not associated with QOL (β = 0.013, F = 55.138, Adjusted R² = 0.365, ΔR² = 0.001, P=.730).
The findings of this study highlight the detrimental impact of the coexistence of anxiety and hypertension on the QoL of patients with gynecological cancer. In addition, the moderating effect of perceived social support suggests that interventions focusing on enhanced social support can weaken the negative impact of anxiety on QoL. Health care providers should recognize the importance of addressing patients’ social support needs to effectively reduce the harmful effects of anxiety in the context of gynecological cancer.
The presence of both anxiety and hypertension significantly affects the quality of life of patients with gynecological cancer. Perceived social support plays a crucial moderating role in the impact of anxiety on QoL.
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