Factors Affecting Health-Related Quality of Life among Survivors of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To describe Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and to identify the association between sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial factors, and self-reported HRQoL among NHL survivors.

Methods: The data of the cancer registry specialized in hematological malignancies in Côte d'Or (France) were used to identify all patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) from 2010 to 2017. Patients were invited to complete SF-12 and other questionnaires.

Results: The HRQoL of NHL survivors was poorer than that of the French general population ( < 0.05) in vitality (48 vs. 56), general health (56 vs. 63), role physical scores (60 vs. 70), role emotional scores (64 vs. 72) and the Mental Component Scale (45 vs. 49). The mean difference in physical functioning decreased per unit increase in age (β = -1.1 (0.3); < 0.001). Men had better vitality than women (β = 12.4 (6.1); 0.04) and the high education level was associated with greater role emotional scores (β = 14.1 (5.4); 0.01). Symptoms of anxiety and depression were associated with poorer HRQoL. The satisfaction of social support was associated with significantly greater scores on mental health (β = 17.3 (5.1); = 0.001) and social functioning (β = 15.7 (7.8); 0.04). Socioeconomic deprivation was associated with poorer general health (β = -12.8 (5.2); 0.01).

Conclusions: From 3 to 11 years post-diagnosis, the main factors found to be associated with poor HRQoL of NHL survivors were age, sex, presence of anxiety, depression and economic problems. These findings suggest the need for supportive care to improve HRQOL and the consideration of these problems when developing care plans for NHL survivors.