Authors:	Büttner, Matthias Singer, Susanne Hentschel, Leopold Richter, Stephan Hohenberger, Peter Kasper, Bernd Andreou, Dimosthenis Pink, Daniel Taylor, Kathy Arndt, Karin Bornhäuser, Martin Schmitt, Jochen Schuler, Markus K. Eichler, Martin
Title:	Financial toxicity in sarcoma patients and survivors in Germany : results from the multicenter PROSa study
Online publication date:	29-Aug-2022
Year of first publication:	2022
Language:	english
Abstract:	Purpose Cancer patients have been shown to frequently suffer from financial burden before, during, and after treatment. However, the financial toxicity of patients with sarcoma has seldom been assessed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether financial toxicity is a problem for sarcoma patients in Germany and identify associated risk factors. Methods Patients for this analysis were obtained from a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in Germany. Using the financial difficulties scale of the EORTC QLQ-C30, financial toxicity was considered to be present if the score exceeded a pre-defined threshold for clinical importance. Comparisons to an age- and sex-matched norm population were performed. A multivariate logistic regression using stepwise backward selection was used to identify factors associated with financial toxicity. Results We included 1103 sarcoma patients treated in 39 centers and clinics; 498 (44.7%) patients reported financial toxicity. Sarcoma patients had 2.5 times the odds of reporting financial difficulties compared to an age- and sex-matched norm population. Patient age < 40 and > 52.5 years, higher education status, higher income, and disease progression (compared to patients with complete remission) were associated with lower odds of reporting financial toxicity. Receiving a disability pension, being currently on sick leave, and having a disability pass were statistically significantly associated with higher odds of reporting financial toxicity. Conclusion Financial toxicity is present in about half of German sarcoma patients, making it a relevant quality of life topic for patients and decision-makers.
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-7629
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	Supportive care in cancer 30
Pages or article number:	187 196
Publisher:	Springer
Publisher place:	Berlin u.a.
Issue date:	2022
ISSN:	1433-7339
Publisher DOI:	10.1007/s00520-021-06406-3
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen