Quality of survival the 1st year with glioblastoma: a longitudinal study of patient-reported quality of life

Abstract

OBJECT By exploring longitudinal patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL), the authors sought to assess the quality of survival for patients in the 1st year after diagnosis of glioblastoma. METHODS Thirty unselected patients ≥ 18 years who underwent primary surgery for glioblastoma in the period 2011–2013 were included. Using the generic HRQoL questionnaire EQ-5D 3L, baseline HRQoL was assessed before surgery and at postoperative follow-up after 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 months. RESULTS There was an apparent correlation between deterioration in HRQoL scores and tumor progression. Patients with permanent deterioration in HRQoL early after surgery represented a subgroup with rapid progression and short survival. Both positive and negative changes in HRQoL were more often seen after surgery than after radio- or chemotherapy. Patients with gross-total resection (GTR) reported better and more stable HRQoL. In a multivariable analysis preoperative cognitive symptoms (p = 0.02), preoperative functional status (p = 0.03), and GTR (p = 0.01) were independent predictors of quality of survival (area under the curve for EQ-5D 3L index values). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that progression-free survival is not only a surrogate marker for survival, but also for quality of survival. Quality of survival seems to be associated with GTR, which adds further support for opting for extensive resections in glioblastoma patients with good preoperative functional levels.

Unique Interplay between Molecular miR-181b/d Biomarkers and Health Related Quality of Life Score in the Predictive Glioma Models

“…Recent meta-analysis by Coomans et al [ 30 ] demonstrated that some HRQOL variables were independent predictors of overall patient survival and progression-free survival in glioma patients. Significant correlation was reported between deterioration of HRQOL scores and tumor progression in glioblastoma patients in longitudinal studies [ 31 ]. Thus, HRQOL is a very informative outcome measure as it reflects the subjectively perceived burden of tumor-related symptoms at the moment of assessment, and also, it has predictive value for long-term overall survival prognosis [ 32 ].…”

Suicidal ideation, depression, and health-related quality of life in patients with benign and malignant brain tumors: a prospective observational study in 83 patients

“…So far, this has been investigated only in survivors of childhood brain cancer [6], preoperatively in adults with intracranial tumors using a cross-sectional design [33], as well as in some retrospective studies evaluating SI in mixed cancer populations [5]. Even though prospective studies on anxiety, depression, and quality of life after surgery are available [20,37], to our knowledge, no prospective, controlled, observational studies have been conducted previously, with emphasis on SI in patients with primary intracranial tumors. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of SI and depression, their relation with HRQoL and social support as a possible protecting factor in patients with brain tumors over the first 9 months after diagnosis.…”

Health-related quality of life and emotional well-being in patients with glioblastoma and their relatives

“…Patients with glioblastoma present with a variety of symptoms and signs, such as neurological deficits and epileptic seizures, cognitive problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms of anxiety and depression, caused by the tumor itself, tumor-related treatment, or a combination of these factors [6]. These symptoms may all have a negative effect on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [7,8], leading to inactivity [7] and the ability to continue a normal working life [7,9]. The patient's accelerating symptoms may also affect the nearest relative's HRQoL [10].…”