Table 5 Association between frequency and duration of tea consumption and EORTC QLQ-C30/EORTC QLQ-OES18 scales

HR (95% CI) ^a

P value

HR (95% CI) ^a

P value

HR (95% CI) ^a

P value

HR (95% CI) ^a

P value

 Global health status/QOL

0.683(0.451-1.036)

0.073

0.839(0.629-1.118)

0.230

0.756(0.541-1.057)

0.101

0.877(0.627-1.226)

0.442

 Physical functioning

0.708(0.476-1.053)

0.088

0.728(0.549-0.965)

0.027

0.742(0.534-1.029)

0.074

0.735(0.530-1.021)

0.066

 Role functioning

0.899(0.583-1.386)

0.630

0.686(0.499-0.943)

0.020

0.707(0.486-1.029)

0.070

0.766(0.533-1.101)

0.150

 Emotional functioning

0.746(0.474-1.175)

0.206

0.864(0.626-1.193)

0.375

0.779(0.538-1.129)

0.187

0.836(0.571-1.225)

0.359

 Cognitive functioning

0.770(0.473-1.254)

0.291

0.830(0.588-1.172)

0.290

0.786(0.530-1.166)

0.232

0.756(0.495-1.154)

0.195

 Social functioning

1.165(0.763-1.779)

0.480

0.962(0.693-1.335)

0.816

0.969(0.670-1.400)

0.866

1.207(0.832-1.750)

0.322

 Fatigue

0.774(0.499-1.201)

0.254

0.885(0.650-1.203)

0.435

0.844(0.590-1.207)

0.352

0.931(0.651-1.331)

0.696

 Nausea/vomiting

0.850(0.538-1.342)

0.485

0.831(0.592-1.166)

0.285

0.748(0.508-1.100)

0.140

1.007(0.680-1.491)

0.973

 Pain

0.893(0.566-1.409)

0.628

0.894(0.642-1.245)

0.508

0.925(0.637-1.343)

0.681

0.855(0.572-1.279)

0.446

 Dyspnea

0.639(0.385-1.060)

0.083

0.903(0.649-1.256)

0.544

0.746(0.505-1.103)

0.142

0.952(0.641-1.413)

0.806

 Insomnia

0.658(0.402-1.077)

0.096

1.037(0.751-1.432)

0.827

0.838(0.574-1.225)

0.362

1.009(0.687-1.482)

0.962

 Appetite loss

0.745(0.469-1.185)

0.214

0.935(0.673-1.297)

0.686

0.887(0.616-1.277)

0.520

0.871(0.582-1.302)

0.500

 Constipation

1.098(0.667-1.809)

0.714

0.597(0.392-0.911)

0.017

0.724(0.459-1.141)

0.164

0.705(0.432-1.148)

0.160

 Diarrhea

0.680(0.413-1.118)

0.128

0.911(0.647-1.283)

0.592

0.722(0.486-1.073)

0.107

0.957(0.638-1.434)

0.830

 Dysphagia

0.678(0.431-1.065)

0.092

1.153(0.860-1.547)

0.342

0.977(0.694-1.375)

0.893

0.980(0.684-1.404)

0.911

 Eating problems

0.650(0.414-1.021)

0.062

0.750(0.544-1.035)

0.080

0.794(0.549-1.148)

0.220

0.699(0.478-1.023)

0.065

 Reflux

0.748(0.495-1.128)

0.166

1.057(0.796-1.403)

0.702

0.999(0.722-1.382)

0.994

0.956(0.682-1.341)

0.795

 Odynophagia

0.640(0.387-1.057)

0.081

0.701(0.488-1.006)

0.054

0.639(0.424-0.964)

0.033

0.709(0.456-1.102)

0.127

 Trouble swallowing saliva

0.359(0.190-0.677)

0.002

0.760(0.528-1.094)

0.140

0.615(0.401-0.942)

0.026

0.613(0.381-0.985)

0.043

 Choking when swallowing

0.576(0.336-0.989)

0.045

0.852(0.596-1.218)

0.380

0.628(0.410-0.960)

0.032

0.919(0.603-1.401)

0.696

 Dry mouth

0.658(0.392-1.106)

0.114

0.818(0.566-1.181)

0.283

0.905(0.603-1.356)

0.627

0.602(0.377-0.962)

0.034

 Trouble with taste

0.597(0.320-1.116)

0.106

0.812(0.534-1.236)

0.331

0.792(0.493-1.274)

0.337

0.671(0.396-1.138)

0.139

 Coughing

0.445(0.247-0.803)

0.007

0.719(0.492-1.052)

0.090

0.488(0.306-0.779)

0.003

0.812(0.523-1.261)

0.354

 Speech problems

0.613(0.345-1.091)

0.096

0.637(0.429-0.947)

0.026

0.595(0.373-0.951)

0.030

0.694(0.440-1.094)

0.116