Patient-reported outcomes during chemotherapy for early breast cancer: a two-centre study of PICC lines vs PORTs

Abstract Introduction Central venous access is essential to receive chemotherapy. In Sweden, the use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) and subcutaneous venous ports (PORTs) varies regionally. This study compared patient-reported outcomes and quality of life, related to these two devices. Method A retrospective, questionnaire-based survey was conducted using a modified Quality of Life Questionnaire for Venous Access Devices (QLVAD). It was distributed to all early breast cancer patients who received either a PICC line (Kristianstad Hospital) or a PORT (Halland Hospital) between June 2019 and June 2022. Result Of 258 patients in the PICC-line group, 208 responded (81%), and of 257 in the PORT group, 195 responded (76%). The overall mean age was 59.8 years (60.5 in the PICC group, 59.1 in the PORT group), with a range of 31–82 years. Patients in both groups expressed high overall satisfaction, with a median score of 9 on a 10-point scale. However, PICC-line users reported more emotional and practical limitations compared to PORT users in several domains: hygiene difficulties (54% vs. 6%), fear of damaging the device (61% vs. 19%), concerns about occlusion (43% vs. 16%), increased illness awareness (73% vs. 58%), and impact on clothing choices (65% vs. 19%) (all p < 0.01). Among PICC users 51% reported restrictions regarding swimming, bathing, or sauna use. Discussion Both access types yielded high satisfaction, but PICC lines caused greater emotional and lifestyle burden. Findings highlight the need for individualized venous access to reduce distress and support quality of life during chemotherapy.