The Impact of the Timing of Health-Related Quality of Life Assessments on the Actual Results in Glioma Patients: A Randomized Prospective Study.

Marthe C.M Peeters,Martin J.B Taphoorn,Maaike J Vos,Linda Dirven,Johan A.F Koekkoek,Hanneke Zwinkels

doi:10.3390/cancers12082172

Marthe C.M Peeters, Martin J.B Taphoorn + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12082172

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the timing of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measurements in clinical care on the obtained HRQoL scores in glioma patients, and the association with feelings of anxiety or depression. Methods: Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)’s Quality of Life Questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BN20), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) twice. All patients completed the first measurement on the day of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan (t = 0), but the second measurement (t = 1) depended on randomization; Group 1 (n = 49) completed the questionnaires before and Group 2 (n = 51) after the consultation with the physician. Results: median HRQoL scale scores on t0/t1 and change scores were comparable between the two groups. Between 8–58% of patients changed to a clinically relevant extent (i.e., ≥10 points) on the evaluated HRQoL scales in about one-week time, in both directions, with only 3% of patients remaining stable in all scales. Patients with a stable role functioning had a lower HADS anxiety change score. The HADS depression score was not associated with a change in HRQoL. Conclusions: Measuring HRQoL before or after the consultation did not impact HRQoL scores on a group level. However, most patients reported a clinically relevant difference in at least one HRQoL scale between the two time points. These findings highlight the importance of standardized moments of HRQoL assessments, or patient-reported outcomes in general, during treatment and follow-up in clinical trials.

Highlights

Gliomas are the most common malignant primary brain tumors in adults, and rare—a yearly incidence of six cases per 100,000 persons [1]—these tumors have a disproportionate share in morbidity
The aim of this study was to explore if Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores changed to a clinically relevant extent when administered between the moment of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan and the day of the consultation with the physician, and whether feelings of anxiety or depression had an influence on these HRQoL scores
There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the percentages of patients improving or deteriorating to a clinically relevant extent

Summary

Introduction

Gliomas are the most common malignant primary brain tumors in adults, and rare—a yearly incidence of six cases per 100,000 persons [1]—these tumors have a disproportionate share in morbidity. Glioma patients suffer from both cancer, with a dismal outcome, and a progressive neurological disease Patients experience symptoms such as headaches, seizures, focal and/or neurocognitive deficits, and changes in personality and behavior [2], which may subsequently negatively influence their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) [3,4,5,6]. Quality of Life (HRQoL) measurements in clinical care on the obtained HRQoL scores in glioma patients, and the association with feelings of anxiety or depression. Most patients reported a clinically relevant difference in at least one HRQoL scale between the two time points These findings highlight the importance of standardized moments of HRQoL assessments, or patient-reported outcomes in general, during treatment and follow-up in clinical trials

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