You have accessJournal of UrologyKidney Cancer: Localized (II)1 Apr 20131309 ROLE OF UNCERTAINTY ON QUALITY OF LIFE (QOL) IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED RENAL TUMORS ON ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE (AS): A PROSPECTIVE 2-YEAR STUDY Patricia Parker, Frances Alba, Bryan Fellman, Diana Urbauer, Yisheng Li, Chaan Ng, Jose Karam, Nizar Tannir, Eric Jonasch, Christopher Wood, and Surena Matin Patricia ParkerPatricia Parker Houston, TX More articles by this author , Frances AlbaFrances Alba Houston, TX More articles by this author , Bryan FellmanBryan Fellman Houston, TX More articles by this author , Diana UrbauerDiana Urbauer Houston, TX More articles by this author , Yisheng LiYisheng Li Houston, TX More articles by this author , Chaan NgChaan Ng Houston, TX More articles by this author , Jose KaramJose Karam Houston, TX More articles by this author , Nizar TannirNizar Tannir Houston, TX More articles by this author , Eric JonaschEric Jonasch Houston, TX More articles by this author , Christopher WoodChristopher Wood Houston, TX More articles by this author , and Surena MatinSurena Matin Houston, TX More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.2663AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Few studies have examined factors associated with QOL of patients with renal tumors. One factor that may influence QOL of patients with renal tumors is illness uncertainty. We prospectively examined the influence of uncertainty on general and cancer specific QOL and intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors over a 2-year period in patients undergoing AS for a renal mass. METHODS Participants had stage T1-2 renal tumors undergoing AS, were 18 years or older and were able to speak and read English. Patients completed 5 different questionnaires (demographics, illness uncertainty, general [SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) score and mental component summary (MCS)] and cancer-specific (CARES) QOL, intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors (Impact of Events Scale-IES) immediately at enrollment and at 6, 12 and 24 months after enrollment. Linear mixed model regression was used to model correlations. RESULTS From 2006-2010, 264 patients were enrolled in a prospective AS registry, the first 100 of whom completed the QOL studies and are characterized in this report. Patient mean age was 72.5 years (SD = 9.9). Fifty-five percent of the patients were male and most (84%) were Caucasian. Mean tumor size was 2.3 cm (SD=1.2) at the first assessment, and tumors grew a mean of 0.17 cm/yr (SD=0.35). Controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, tumor size, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and comorbidities at enrollment and respective variables at baseline, we found that uncertainty was associated with PCS scores, indicating greater illness uncertainty was associated with poorer QOL in the physical domain (p=0.008). Uncertainty was also associated with CARES Physical (p =0.001), Psychosocial (p<0.001) and Medical (p=0.034) subscale scores, indicating that illness uncertainty also influenced cancer-specific QOL. Illness uncertainty was also associated with IES scores (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study is one of the first to prospectively examine the QOL as well psychosocial factors that influence QOL in patients with renal tumors undergoing AS. Controlling for demographic factors, tumor size, eGFR, and comorbidities, we found that disease uncertainty predicted both general and cancer-specific QOL and intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors. Importantly and consequently, these factors could be targeted in psychosocial interventions to improve the QOL of patients on AS. © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e535 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Patricia Parker Houston, TX More articles by this author Frances Alba Houston, TX More articles by this author Bryan Fellman Houston, TX More articles by this author Diana Urbauer Houston, TX More articles by this author Yisheng Li Houston, TX More articles by this author Chaan Ng Houston, TX More articles by this author Jose Karam Houston, TX More articles by this author Nizar Tannir Houston, TX More articles by this author Eric Jonasch Houston, TX More articles by this author Christopher Wood Houston, TX More articles by this author Surena Matin Houston, TX More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...