Background: Physical, psychological, and social aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors may be more affected during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic. However, the impact is not yet understood well.<br />Methods: Prospectively collected data from the NETherlands QUality of life and BIomedical Cohort study in HNC were used. All patients were diagnosed and treated before the COVID-19 pandemic. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) collected 24 and 36 months after treatment (M24 and M36) were compared between survivors who completed both assessments before the COVID-19 pandemic and those who completed M24 before but M36 during the pandemic. Personal, clinical, physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle characteristics of the survivors assessed at baseline or M24 were investigated as potential effect modifiers.<br />Results: In total, 318 HNC survivors were included, of which 199 completed both M24 and M36 before the COVID-19 pandemic and 119 completed M24 before but M36 during the pandemic. Changes in HRQOL between 24 and 36 months follow-up did not differ between the two groups for any of the PROMs. However, in some subgroups of HNC survivors the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the course of HRQOL for several PROMs while it positively affected the course of HRQOL for other PROMs.<br />Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic did not affect HRQOL in HNC survivors in general, but some subgroups were affected in a positive and others in a negative way.<br />Funding: This work was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society [grant number VU 2013–5930] and the Dutch Cancer Society, Alpe Young Investigator Grant [grant number 12820].

FJ received funding from the Dutch Cancer Society, Alpe Young Investigator Grant [grant number 12820]. FL received funding from the Dutch Cancer Society [grant numbers VU2017-8288 and 11839]. SFO received funding from Celidex Therapeutics, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Merck and participated in the Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board of GenMab and Bristol Myers Squibb. IMVdL received funding from the Dutch Cancer Society (grant number VU 2013-5930). All payments were made to the respective institutions. All other authors report no competing interests.

This work was supported by the Dutch Cancer Society [grant number VU 2013-5930] and the Dutch Cancer Society, Alpe Young Investigator Grant [grant number 12820]. The funding body had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data nor in writing the manuscript.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

Medical Ethical Committee of Amsterdam UMC location VUmc (METc VUmc 2013.301 (A2018.307)-NL45051.029.13)

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The datasets geneThe dataset generated and analyzed (including a deindentified version of it) during the current study is not publicly available as the collection and integration of large amounts of personal, biological, genetic and diagnostic information precludes open access to the NET-QUBIC research data. Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. On the NET-QUBIC website (www.kubusproject.nl) is described how NET-QUBIC data are made available for the research community. In short, a research proposal has to be submitted to the NET-QUBIC steering committee. The researcher has to be a member of the NET-QUBIC consortium, or a consortium member has to collaborate in the project. The NET-QUBIC steering committee will judge the proposal. The SPSS syntax of the analyses in this study are publically available on GitHub: https://github.com/b-lissenberg/COVID-and-cancer.

https://github.com/b-lissenberg/COVID-and-cancer