What are the important health-related quality of life issues in patients diagnosed with indolent lymphoma?

Abstract

18574 Background: Numerous treatment options are available for indolent lymphoma (IL), including watchful waiting, each with unique, longer term therapeutic and health-related quality of life (HRQL) issues. No validated HRQL questionnaire currently exists to assess the full range of issues that impact an IL patient’s QoL. We sought to fully assess these important areas to inform decisions about the use of a HRQL questionnaire in clinical studies. Methods: Five focus groups (n = 33), supplemented by in-depth one-on-one telephone interviews (n = 19) were conducted with IL patients across the US. Results: A total of 52 IL patients (65% female; mean age 53 years) participated and completed a questionnaire. Mean time since diagnosis was 51 months; 83% had received active treatment since diagnosis. Participants belonged to one of the following treatment categories: Watchful Waiting (17%), Actively Being Treated (50%), and Previously Treated (33%). Patients identified 4 domains and issues (see Table ) common across all patients regardless of treatment category. Treatment-specific issues included lack of control over the disease with watchful waiting vs. taking control, and actively fighting the disease with a specific treatment. Results from the questionnaire will be presented. Conclusions: Further elucidation of these issues is needed to facilitate HRQL evaluation in future studies and better inform treatment decisions. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]