Publications by authors named "Alexa Christ"
Article Synopsis
- Precision health strategies are essential for managing symptom burden in primary brain tumor patients, addressing the complex and diverse nature of their symptoms.
- The study used network analysis and unsupervised clustering on data from 1,128 patients to uncover symptoms' interconnections, revealing four key dimensions of symptom burden: cognitive, physical, focal neurologic, and affective.
- The results indicated four patient subgroups, with notable distinctions in their symptom patterns and severities, potentially guiding the development of personalized symptom management approaches in the future.
Article Synopsis
- Financial toxicity, especially linked to unemployment, has a significant impact on cancer survivors, prompting an evaluation of how it relates to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in individuals with primary CNS tumors (PCNST).
- The study, conducted between September 2016 and December 2019 with 277 participants, revealed that Hispanic individuals faced higher unemployment rates and reported greater functional impairments and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than employed counterparts.
- Unemployed participants exhibited notably higher levels of depressive (25% vs. 8%) and anxiety symptoms (30% vs. 15%), highlighting the mental health challenges associated with unemployment in this patient group.
Article Synopsis
- Astroblastoma, -altered is a new classification of rare CNS tumors added by the WHO in 2021, characterized by unique DNA methylation patterns and specific genetic fusions but has variable histological features.
- These tumors are most frequently found in children, especially females, and their clinical outcomes vary widely, with some patients facing multiple recurrences despite aggressive treatment while others do well after surgery alone.
- The report details the cases of three female adults with these tumors, highlights the need for better clinical data collection, and suggests a standardized method for gathering neuropathological and patient-reported outcomes to enhance understanding of the tumor's clinical diversity.
Article Synopsis
- * Patients with sleep disturbances also experienced a higher overall symptom burden, including significantly more depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as increased feelings of drowsiness and distress.
- * The findings suggest that addressing sleep disturbances in PBT patients could improve their overall symptom experience and quality of life, highlighting the need for future research on sleep patterns and potential interventions.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the importance of clinical outcomes assessments (COAs) for patients with malignant glioma, specifically looking at symptoms and functions recommended by the RANO-PRO Working Group.
- Using a cohort of 336 patients from a larger study, researchers analyzed how symptoms like pain and cognitive issues and functions like weakness and ability to work relate to disease progression over time.
- Findings suggest that these COAs are relevant indicators of disease status and may change as the disease progresses, providing vital information for both clinical care and research.
Article Synopsis
- Cognitive impairments are common in patients with primary CNS tumors, and traditional neuropsychological assessments are often too lengthy for routine use, prompting the study of the brief Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during in-person and telehealth visits.
- The study involved 71 adults with CNS tumors who took the MoCA, revealing an average score of 25 in-person and 26 via telehealth, with a notable percentage scoring abnormally; satisfaction surveys indicated healthcare providers found the MoCA useful in both settings.
- Findings demonstrated a correlation between lower MoCA scores and worse symptoms, emphasizing the importance of incorporating both objective cognitive measures and patient-reported outcomes for a comprehensive understanding of patient cognition in neuro-oncology care.
Introduction: Despite an increasing aging population, older adults (≥ 65 years) with primary brain tumors (PBTs) are not routinely assessed for geriatric vulnerabilities. Recent reports of geriatric assessment (GA) in patients with glioblastomas demonstrated that GA may serve as a sensitive prognosticator of overall survival. Yet, current practice does not include routine evaluation of geriatric vulnerabilities and the relevance of GA has not been previously evaluated in broader cohorts of PBT patients.
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- Primary CNS tumors lead to significant symptoms and a poor prognosis, prompting a study on long-term survivors (≥5 years) to evaluate their reported outcomes.
- Data from 248 adult survivors revealed that while 42% reported no moderate-to-severe symptoms, many experienced issues like fatigue and cognitive difficulties, with significant anxiety and depression reported by some.
- The study highlights the need for tailored survivorship care programs, as survivors exhibited diverse symptom experiences regardless of tumor characteristics, indicating ongoing support and research are essential.