Long-Term Evolution of Quality of Life and Symptoms Following Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis: Different Trajectories for Which Patients?

Abstract

Many studies have shown a global efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for patients with endometriosis in reducing painful symptoms and improving quality of life (QoL) in the short and long-term. The aim of this study was to analyze the different trajectories of long-term evolution in QoL and symptoms following surgical treatment for endometriosis, and to identify corresponding patient profiles. This prospective and multicenter cohort study concerned 962 patients who underwent laparoscopic treatment for endometriosis. QoL was evaluated using the Short Form (SF)-36 questionnaire and intensity of pain was reported using a visual analog scale prior to surgery and at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after surgery. Distinctive trajectories of pain and QoL evolution were identified using group-based trajectory modeling, an approach which gathers individuals into meaningful subgroups with statistically similar trajectories. Pelvic symptom trajectories (models of the evolution of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain intensity over years) correspond to (1) patients with no pain or pain no longer after surgery, (2) patients with the biggest improvement in pain and (3) patients with continued severe pain after surgery. Our study reveals clear trajectories for the progression of symptoms and QoL after surgery that correspond to clusters of patients. This information may serve to complete information obtained from epidemiological methods currently used in selecting patients eligible for surgery.