Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Objective: Because non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is characterized by frequent recurrence and intensive surveillance, patients may experience a substantial burden affecting their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to assess health-related quality of life and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with quality of life in patients with NMIBC. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Urology Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables (age and sex) and clinical characteristics (histopathological stage, BCG therapy, number of TUR procedures, number of cystoscopies, and follow-up duration) were analyzed to identify factors associated with quality of life. Results: The mean general health status was 58.89/100, with the highest functioning observed in the physical and social domains, while role functioning was the lowest. The most common symptoms were fatigue, insomnia, and pain, whereas dyspnea, diarrhea, and nausea were the least reported. Women had better physical functioning than men (p = 0.033), while men more frequently reported insomnia (p = 0.037) and appetite loss (p = 0.007). Older patients had lower general health status and physical functioning (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Patients demonstrated a moderate quality of life, with the highest scores in physical and social functioning, while the lowest scores were observed in role functioning. Older age and male sex were associated with poorer quality of life.