Authors:	Ernst, Mareike Hinz, Andreas Brähler, Elmar Merzenich, Hiltrud Faber, Jörg Wild, Philipp S. Beutel, Manfred E.
Title:	Quality of life after pediatric cancer : comparison of long-term childhood cancer survivors’ quality of life with a representative general population sample and associations with physical health and risk indicators
Online publication date:	15-Feb-2024
Year of first publication:	2023
Language:	english
Abstract:	Background This study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) reported by childhood cancer survivors (CCS) drawn from a cohort of the German Childhood Cancer Registry with a representative general population sample and, within CCS, to test associations between QoL and health behavior, health risk factors, and physical illness. Methods CCS (N=633, age at diagnosis M=6.34 (SD=4.38), age at medical assessment M=34.92 (SD=5.70)) and a general population sample (age-aligned; N=975) flled out the EORTC QLQ-C30. Comparisons were performed using General linear models (GLMs) (fxed efects: sex/gender, group (CCS vs. general population); covariates: age, educa tion level). CCS underwent an extensive medical assessment (mean time from diagnosis to assessment was 28.07 (SD=3.21) years) including an objective diagnosis of health risk factors and physical illnesses (e.g., diabetes and car diovascular disease). Within CCS, we tested associations between QoL and sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior, health risk factors, and physical illness. Results CCS, especially female CCS, reported both worse functional QoL and higher symptom burden than the general population. Among CCS, better total QoL was related to younger age, higher level of education, being mar ried, and engaging in active sports. Both health risk factors (dyslipidemia and physical inactivity) and manifest physical illnesses (cardiovascular disease) were associated with lower total QoL. Conclusions In all domains, long-term CCS reported worse QoL than the comparison sample. The negative associa tions with risk factors and physical illnesses indicate an urgent need for long-term surveillance and health promotion.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-10018
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Document type specification:	Scientific article
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	Health and quality of life outcomes 21
Pages or article number:	65
Publisher:	BioMed Central
Publisher place:	London
Issue date:	2023
ISSN:	1477-7525
Publisher DOI:	10.1186/s12955-023-02153-7
Appears in collections:	DFG-491381577-G