Association between cognitive social capital and saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the association between cognitive social capital and patient-reported saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors. Methods This cross-sectional study included adults treated with curative intent for squamous cell carcinoma of the lip/oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx at a referral hospital in southern Brazil. The outcome was patient-reported saliva-related quality of life, assessed using the saliva domain of the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire (UW-QOL); higher scores indicate better outcomes. Cognitive social capital was assessed using a brief three-item proxy index; participants were classified as scoring 3 (the maximum) or below 3. Hierarchical multiple linear regression estimated unstandardised coefficients ( B ) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for education, tumour location, radiotherapy (yes vs. no), and time since treatment completion. Sensitivity analyses tested alternative operationalisations and adjustments. Results A total of 105 adults participated (response rate 84.7%). The mean UW-QOL saliva-domain score was 61.85 ± 33.90, and 18 participants (17.1%) scored below 3. In the fully adjusted model, a score below 3 was associated with poorer saliva-related quality of life ( B = −18.53; 95% CI −33.85 to −3.21; p = 0.018); sensitivity analyses were consistent. Conclusion In this exploratory study, lower scores on a three-item cognitive social capital proxy index were associated with poorer saliva-related quality of life among head and neck cancer survivors. Perceived social resources may be relevant to this burden, but these preliminary findings require confirmation in larger longitudinal studies.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026 · DOI ↗