Health-related quality of life in patients with high-grade gliomas: a quantitative longitudinal study

Abstract

The diagnosis of a high-grade glioma usual is followed by functional impairment(s), cognitive decline and an impaired psycho-social well-being. This might well have a significant and negative impact on the health related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore physical activity levels, prevalence and severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life among patients with a highgrade glioma. This paper is based on a longitudinal mixed methods study. Patients (n = 30) completed questionnaires at 5 time points from time of diagnosis until the final follow-up after 1 year. Scores of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), physical activity, anxiety and depression and health-related quality of life (FACT-Br) are obtained. Patients' physical activity level and KPS decrease during the disease- and treatment trajectory. The majority of patients did not report any depressive symptoms, eight individuals (26.7 %) being depressed at various time points. Among a sub-group of participants who completed all study requirements for the entire study period the level of anxiety decreased significantly during the study. The FACT-Br sub-scale of emotional well-being increased significant, indicating a better HRQOL attend of followup. The diagnosis of a HGG leads to an ongoing functional decline measured as a decline of the KPS and a reduced physical activity during leisure time. Supportive care combined with rehabilitative and palliative approaches might well be valuable along the trajectory especially during the post-surgery period when anxiety is at its highest peak.

Experiencing brain cancer: what physicians should know about patients

“…We also found that 22% of patients had a pathological score regarding depression in concurrence with other studies (e.g. [ 6 ]). Depression scores positively correlated with the functional status measured by the KPS.…”

“…A number of well-validated and reliable QoL instruments have been standardised, with both general measures and specific modules for various tumour sites, treatment modalities, and additional dimensions like spirituality [ 4 ] (Gill & Feinstein, 1994). However, a combination of a quantitative and qualitative approach may provide a more comprehensive picture of a patient’s QoL [ 5 , 6 ] (Lucchiari, Botturi, Masiero, Pravettoni, 2015; Piil et al 2015).…”

Coping with a newly diagnosed high-grade glioma: patient-caregiver dyad effects on quality of life

“…However, the sequence and the nature of the information provided varied, and this difference may partially explain the discrepancies between patients and caregivers as it relates to daily life consequences. Given that previous studies did not retrieve these discrepancies [13,28], longitudinal approaches will determine whether the observed discrepancy diminishes during later stages of the disease [8]. Scores ranging 0-100, the higher the score the higher coping strategy is used *p < 0.05 before correction for multiple testing; **p < 0.01 before correction for multiple testing; ( * ) p < 0.05 after correction for multiple testing correlated with the use of social support by the patient, indicating that the caregiver feels badly when the patient finds external resources but feels valued when the patient does not utilize external support.…”

“…The announcement of such a diagnosis and poor prognosis, the effects of the tumor on cognition and functionality, and the toxicity of treatments have rapid and important consequences on the everyday life of patients and their relatives [2,3]. These social, emotional, psychological and physical consequences have already been described [4][5][6], indicating an important quality of life (QoL) alteration at a level that is not normally observed in other cancers [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Due to these major lifestyle disruptions, there is an interest in studying how patients and caregivers handle the problems of daily life and how the Abstract Patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG) and their caregivers have to confront a very aggressive disease that produces major lifestyle disruptions.…”

Needs and preferences among patients with high-grade glioma and their caregivers - A longitudinal mixed methods study

“…In our previous longitudinal qualitative study we interviewed patients with HGG and their caregivers, and identified a need for information and guidance regarding symptoms and supportive care interventions . In the same population we quantitatively measured HRQOL over time and found high levels of anxiety among the newly diagnosed patients (Piil, Jakobsen, Christensen, Juhler, & Jarden, 2015).…”