Abstract
BackgroundGlioma patients suffer from a wide range of symptoms which influence quality of life negatively. The aim of this review is to give an overview of symptoms most prevalent in glioma patients throughout the total disease trajectory, to be used as a basis for the development of a specific glioma Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) for early assessment and monitoring of symptoms in glioma patients.MethodsA systematic review focused on symptom prevalence in glioma patients in different phases of disease and treatment was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE according to PRISMA recommendations. We calculated weighted means for prevalence rates per symptom.ResultsThe search identified 2.074 unique papers, of which 32 were included in this review. In total 25 symptoms were identified. The ten most prevalent symptoms were: seizures (37%), cognitive deficits (36%), drowsiness (35%), dysphagia (30%), headache (27%), confusion (27%), aphasia (24%), motor deficits (21%), fatigue (20%) and dyspnea (20%).ConclusionsEight out of ten of the most prevalent symptoms in glioma patients are related to the central nervous system and therefore specific for glioma. Our findings emphasize the importance of tailored symptom care for glioma patients and may aid in the development of specific PROMs for glioma patients in different phases of the disease.
Highlights
Gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults
The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review of symptom prevalence in patients with a glioma throughout the total disease trajectory, in order to enhance professionals’ awareness of the symptom burden of glioma patients, and to provide a basis for the development of a symptom-directed glioma Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) suitable for use in clinical practice as well as in research
This review shows the unique nature of glioma patients’ symptom burden
Summary
Symptoms in glioma patients can be caused by the tumor or occur as side effect of treatment. Different papers have reviewed the prevalence or treatment of unique symptoms in glioma patients, such as cognitive deficits [9], seizures [10], and depression [11]. Methods A systematic review focused on symptom prevalence in glioma patients in different phases of disease and treatment was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE according to PRISMA recommendations. Conclusions Eight out of ten of the most prevalent symptoms in glioma patients are related to the central nervous system and specific for glioma. Our findings emphasize the importance of tailored symptom care for glioma patients and may aid in the development of specific PROMs for glioma patients in different phases of the disease
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