Health-related quality of life in Chinese children and adolescents with cancer.

Abstract

Cancer diagnosis and related treatment can have multiple impacts on children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to determine profiles of HRQoL in Chinese children and adolescents with cancer based on patient-reported outcomes. This cross-sectional study recruited 310 pediatric patients with cancer (in treatment and survivorship) aged 8-17 years old and their family caregivers from four hospitals in China. The participants were asked to complete the PROMIS Pediatric-25 Profile 2.0, along with a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, fatigue screening item, and an item assessing the family caregiver's coping style. Latent profile analysis was used to identify profiles. Two profiles were identified: Profile 1, "low symptom and high function" (n = 147, 47.4%); and Profile 2, "high symptom and low function" (n = 163, 52.5%). Children reporting ≥3 on the five-point Symptom Distress Scale fatigue screening item were more likely to be in Profile 2 (OR = 1.961; 95% CI: 1.098-3.501). Participants were less likely to be in Profile 2 if they were in survivorship (OR = 0.494; 95% CI: 0.271-0.903), or their caregiver's coping style was identified as facing positively (OR = 0.439; 95% CI: 0.274-0.703). The identified profiles demonstrate the heterogeneity in HRQoL among pediatric patients with cancer, and the importance of supporting caregivers' coping as a means of supporting the child. Knowledge of these profiles can assist clinicians in better identifying and targeting interventions for children with cancer.