Employment status and health related quality of life among Hodgkin-lymphoma survivors’– results based on data from a major treatment center in Hungary

Abstract

BackgroundDue to risk and response adapted treatment strategies, more than 80% of newly diagnosed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients can be cured, and become long-term survivors. However, a high proportion of survivors suffer from treatment-related long-term side effects such as secondary malignancy, organ failure, persistent fatigue and psychological distress. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychological distress and its risk factors among our HL survivors.MethodsOne hundred sixty-three (50% female) adult HL survivors were contacted between January 1, 2012 and march 31, 2015 in our outpatient centre. The patients were asked to complete a standardized, validated, self-administered Hungarian questionnaire with demographic questions and the following scales: Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS14), general health questionnaire (GHQ12), sense of coherence (SOC13) perceived stress scale (PSS4), dysfunctional attitude scale (DAS17). Disease and treatment data were acquired from hospital records.ResultsMajority of HL survivors are in early adulthood, our most important goal should be to return them to normal life after their lymphoma is cured. The employment status at the time of survey seemed to be crucial so patients were divided into either active (n = 93) or inactive (n = 47) group. Retired survivors (n = 19) were excluded from the subgroup analysis. Psychological distress was significantly lower in active patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed significant differences between the inactive and active subgroups, such as age at diagnosis (≥30 years or below, p = 0.001), education level (below college vs. college, p = 0.032) and treatment related long-term side effects (yes vs. no, p < 0.001). Predictors for treatment-related long-term side effects are female gender (p = 0.011), chemotherapy protocol (ABVD vs. other, p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur data suggest that employment status and treatment-related long-term side effects play a critical role in the health related quality of life outcome among Hungarian HL survivors.

Associations between perceived environmental pollution and health-related quality of life in a Chinese adult population

“…With respect to employment status, the findings in this study were in line with the results in several early [59][60][61][62]. Clinically, employment was associated with QoL in multiple sclerosis patients [63], HRQoL among people with multiple sclerosis [64], HRQoL among people with schizophrenia [65], and HRQoL among Hungarian Hodgkin lymphoma survivors [66]. Thus, the associations could be generalized.…”

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

“…An online survey in 153 MEN1 patients who are part of the American MEN support group revealed that this group experienced significant financial burden and unemployment, which were both correlated to worse HRQOL [17]. A similar effect of employment on HRQOL is observed in different malignancies [21]. In addition, in a MEN2 cohort, a higher physical functioning score was observed in actively working patients than in inactive subjects [19].…”

Associations between perceived environmental pollution and health-related quality of life in a Chinese adult population

“…A prospective international study showed that employment loss was prospectively associated with poorer mental HRQoL [98]. Clinically, employment was associated with QoL in multiple sclerosis patients [99], HRQoL among people with multiple sclerosis [100], HRQoL among people with schizophrenia [101], and HRQoL among Hungarian Hodgkin lymphoma survivors [102].…”