Symptoms and quality of life in gynecological cancer patients after surgery: Application of latent profile and network analysis

This study aimed to identify latent classes of postoperative symptoms in patients with gynecological malignancies and analyze the complex relationship between different symptom categories and quality of life (QoL). A convenience sample of 385 postoperative patients with gynecological malignancies was surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Gynecological Cancer, and a QoL scale. Symptoms with an incidence >20% were subjected to latent profile analysis to identify symptom subgroups. Network analysis was used to construct symptom– QoL networks for each subgroup. Patients were categorized into a low symptom burden group (67.5%) and a moderate-to-high symptom burden group (32.5%). Age, preoperative chemotherapy, and cancer type were factors significantly associated with symptom burden. In the low burden group, physical symptoms were core features, with emotional status serving as bridge symptom. The moderate-to-high burden group exhibited a clearer “psychological-somatic” comorbidity pattern, with physical status acting as a bridge symptom. Significant heterogeneity exists in early postoperative symptoms (assessed on postoperative day 3) among gynecological malignancy patients. Interventions for the low symptom burden group should focus on physical symptoms, while emotional regulation is central to symptom management in the moderate-to-high burden group. Tailored symptom management strategies based on subgroup characteristics may help improve patients’ QoL during the acute recovery period.