Quality of life outcome over time; scores for functional scales, in which higher scores represent better functioning, and symptoms scales, with higher scores representing higher burden of symptoms. As all quality of life scales had a skewed distribution, the scores were transformed using logarithmic transformation
| Scale | Arm | Baseline (median (IQR)) | 3 months (median (IQR)) | 6 months (median (IQR)) | 9 months (median (IQR)) | 12 months (median (IQR)) | P value* | P value‡ |
| Functional scales | ||||||||
| Global health status | NACT | 83.33 (50) | 83.33 (29.17) | 91.66 (25) | 87.5 (33.33) | 83.33 (50) | 1 | 0.36 |
| CRT | 66.66 (50) P†=0.167 | 83.33 (37.5) | 83.33 (33.33) | 83.33 (50) | 83.33 (33.33) | 1 | ||
| Summary score | NACT | 92.3 (16.75) | 92.3 (16.75) | 94.87 (12.78) | 94.87 (15.81) | 91.53 (25.3) | <0.001 | 0.884 |
| CRT | 93.58 (18.55) P†=0.818 | 92.3 (17.52) | 83.46 (29.57) | 84.35 (35.64) | 90.21 (36.71) | <0.001 | ||
| Body image | NACT | 100 (22.22) | 100 (0) | 100 (0) | 100 (0) | 100 (11.11) | <0.001 | 0.343 |
| CRT | 100 (22.22) P†=0.365 | 83.33 (52.78) | 97.22 (50) | 88.88 (61.11) | 83.33 (52.78) | <0.001 | ||
| Sexual activity | NACT | 0 (0) | 16.66 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | 58.3 (33.33) | 33.33 (33.33) | <0.001 | 0.792 |
| CRT | 0 (0) P†=0.077 | 0 (25) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | <0.001 | ||
| Sexual enjoyment | NACT | 33.33 (50) | 33.33 (50) | 66.66 (58.33) | 50 (54.17) | 66.66 (50) | <0.001 | 0.851 |
| CRT | 33.33 (50) P†=1 | 33.33 (0) | 33.33 (33.33) | 41.66 (41.67) | 66.66 (33.33) | 0.006 | ||
| Sexual/vaginal functioning | NACT | 100 (8.33) | 83.33 (27.08) | 91.67 (16.67) | 100 (13.54) | 91.66 (33.33) | <0.001 | 0.012 |
| CRT | 54.66 (56.25) P†=0.056 | 83.33 (50) | 75 (16.67) | 93.74 (20.83) | 91.66 (58.33) | <0.001 | ||
| Symptom scale | ||||||||
| Symptoms experience | NACT | 15.15 (21.21) | 6.06 (12.12) | 9.09 (15.15) | 6.06 (14.77) | 6.06 (25) | <0.001 | 0.052 |
| CRT | 18.18 (25) P†=0.183 | 7.57 (15.15) | 9.09 (17.42) | 9.09 (14.39) | 10.6 (31.06) | <0.001 | ||
| Lymphedema | NACT | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (8.33) | <0.001 | 0.26 |
| CRT | 0 (8.33) P†=0.358 | 0 (0) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (12.5) | 0 (33.33) | <0.001 | ||
| Peripheral neuropathy | NACT | 0 (0) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | 16.66 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | <0.001 | 0.364 |
| CRT | 0 (33.33) P†=0.116 | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (45.83) | 0 (58.33) | <0.001 | ||
| Menopausal symptoms | NACT | 0 (0) | 0 (33.33) | 33.33 (66.67) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | <0.001 | 0.034 |
| CRT | 0 (33.33) P†=0.083 | 33.33 (66.67) | 33.33 (66.67) | 33.33 (66.67) | 66.67 (66.67) | <0.001 | ||
| Sexual worry | NACT | 0 (33.33) | 0 (33.33) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (33.33) | 0.153 | 0.149 |
| CRT | 0 (0) P†=0.861 | 0 (33.33) | 0 (41.67) | 0 (41.67) | 0 (33.33) | <0.001 |
*p value for differences within each group over time, assessed by linear mixed model.
†p value for differences in baseline between groups, using the Mann–Whitney U test.
‡p value for differences between treatment arms, assessed by linear mixed model.