Quality of life in survivors of hematological malignancies stratified by cancer type, time since diagnosis and stem cell transplantation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Quality of life in survivors of hematological malignancies stratified by cancer type, time since diagnosis and stem cell transplantation

AU - Esser, Peter

AU - Kuba, Katharina

AU - Mehnert, Anja

AU - Johansen, Christoffer

AU - Hinz, Andreas

AU - Lordick, Florian

AU - Götze, Heide

N1 - © 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - Objectives: Quality of life (QoL) has become an important tool to guide decision making in oncology. Given the heterogeneity among hematological cancer survivors, however, clinicians need comparative data across different subsets. Methods: This study recruited survivors of hematological malignancies (≥2.5 years after diagnosis) from 2 German cancer registries. QoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30. The sample was stratified by cancer type, time since diagnosis, treatment with stem cell transplantation (SCT) and type of SCT. First, levels of QoL were compared across subsamples when controlling for several covariates. Second, we contrasted subsamples with gender- and age-matched population controls obtained from the general population. Results: Of 2001 survivors contacted by mail, 922 (46%) participated in the study. QoL did not significantly differ between the subsamples. All subsamples scored significantly lower in functioning and significantly higher in symptom burden compared to population controls (all P <.001). Almost all of these group effects reached clinically meaningful sizes (Cohen′s d ≥.5). Group differences in global health/QoL were mostly non-significant. Conclusions: Hematological cancer survivors are associated with practically relevant impairments irrespective of differences in central medical characteristics. Nevertheless, survivors seem to evaluate their overall situation as relatively well.

AB - Objectives: Quality of life (QoL) has become an important tool to guide decision making in oncology. Given the heterogeneity among hematological cancer survivors, however, clinicians need comparative data across different subsets. Methods: This study recruited survivors of hematological malignancies (≥2.5 years after diagnosis) from 2 German cancer registries. QoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30. The sample was stratified by cancer type, time since diagnosis, treatment with stem cell transplantation (SCT) and type of SCT. First, levels of QoL were compared across subsamples when controlling for several covariates. Second, we contrasted subsamples with gender- and age-matched population controls obtained from the general population. Results: Of 2001 survivors contacted by mail, 922 (46%) participated in the study. QoL did not significantly differ between the subsamples. All subsamples scored significantly lower in functioning and significantly higher in symptom burden compared to population controls (all P <.001). Almost all of these group effects reached clinically meaningful sizes (Cohen′s d ≥.5). Group differences in global health/QoL were mostly non-significant. Conclusions: Hematological cancer survivors are associated with practically relevant impairments irrespective of differences in central medical characteristics. Nevertheless, survivors seem to evaluate their overall situation as relatively well.

KW - Aged

KW - Cancer Survivors

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Comorbidity

KW - Female

KW - Germany/epidemiology

KW - Hematologic Neoplasms/diagnosis

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Public Health Surveillance

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Registries

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Stem Cell Transplantation

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1111/ejh.13104

DO - 10.1111/ejh.13104

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29858505

SN - 0902-4441

VL - 101

SP - 340

EP - 348

JO - European Journal of Haematology

JF - European Journal of Haematology

IS - 3

ER -