Health-related quality of life among patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematological malignancy affecting children. Patients with cancer experience debilitating symptoms resulting from cancer or the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, maintaining or improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is crucial to prolong survival. The aim was to assess pediatric HRQOL in patients with ALL. In addition, we report the influential factors, and the relationship between patient variables that decrease the HRQOL. Material and methodA cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 patients aged 2–12 years (59 boys and 41 girls) from King Saud University Medical City and King Fahad Medical City. The parent proxy report of Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory TM (PedsQL™) 3.0 Cancer Module (Arabic version) was used to measure the HRQOL. ResultPatients aged ≤6 had more procedural anxiety than older patients and exhibited increased worry during their first year of treatment. The boys had increased cognitive problems than girls. Upper-middle socioeconomic status posed enhanced barriers to communication, and more non-Saudi than Saudi patients experienced pain and hurt. Collectively, most patients had poor HRQOL. ConclusionA significant association was observed between the male sex and cognitive problems; younger age and procedural anxiety; short duration of treatment and worry; nationality with pain, hurt, and nausea; and communication barriers with upper-middle socioeconomic status.